.-$■ 


\ 


Q-plBTJSQtr^ 


'^ 


/ 


She  liattlc  af  ^ovt  f  muter 


;^'^ 


First  Victory  of  the  Southern  Troops. 


APKIL    i;!tli.  isr.i. 


Full   accounts   of  the  Bombardment,  with  Sketches   of  the   Scenes, 

Incidents,  etc.     Compiled  chiefly  from  the  detailed 

Reports  of  the  Charleston  Press. 


I»"CJB3L.ISIIE:ID       B-V       RBGiXJEST- 


('Hai;i.p:ston.  s.  v.-. 

i'KIM  I  1>   nV   KVANS  &  COCi.-WKI.I.,  Nos.    J  IiKllvn    VXD   W"  KAST   BAY  SI'S. 

1801 


l/*fi<«<',    'X'woiity-lr<^iv<»     Oeiitss*. 


/" 


George  Washington  Flowers 
Memorial  Collection 

DUKE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 


ESTABLISHED  BY  THE 
FAMILY  OF 

COLONEL  FLOWERS 


THE 

4 


:      BATTLE  OF  FORT  SUMTER 

i 


First  Victory  of  tlie  Soiitlicrii  Troops, 


April    ISxrr,    1861 


il'LL  ACCOUNTS    OF    THE    BOMBARDMEXT,    AVITIE   SKETCHES    OF 
THE    SCENES,    INCIDENTS,    ETC. 


COMl'lLED    CHIEFLY    FROM  THE    DETAILED  HF-PORTS  OF    THE 
CUAIlLESroX  I'RESS. 


PUBLISH KD    BY   KEQUEST. 


CIIARLESTOX : 

STEAJl-POWEU     PRESSES     OP    EVANS    i    COGSWELL. 
No.  3  BroaJ  and  103  East  Bay  Streets. 

1801. 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 
in  2010  with  funding  from 
Duke  University  Libraries 


littp://www.arcliive.org/details/battleoffortsumtOOchar 


r^^R 


THE  BATTLE  OF  FORT  SUllTER. 


FIRST  DAYS  BOMBAEDMENT. 

Fkiday,  April  12,  18G1. 

The  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter,  so  long  and  anxiously 
expected,  has  at  length  become  a  fact  accomplished. 

At  about  two  o'clock,  on  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  General 
Beauregard,  through  his  Aids,  Col.  James  Chesnut,  Jr.,  Col. 
Chisohn  and  Capt.  Lee,  made  a  demand  on  ^lajor  Ander.son 
for  the  immediate  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter,  ^lajor  Anderson 
replied  that  such  a  course  Avould  be  inconsistent  with  the  duty 
he  was  required  by  his  Government  to  perform.  The  answer 
was  communicated  b}'  the  General-in  Chief  to  President  Davis. 

This  visit,  and  the  refusal  of  the  commandant  of  Fort  Sum- 
ter to  accede  to  the  demand  made  by  General  Beauregard, 
passed  from  tongue  to  tongue,  and  soon  the  whole  cit}*  was  in 
possession  of  the  startling  intelligence.  Eumor,  as  she  is  Avont 
to  do,  shaped  the  facts  to  suit  her  purposes,  enlarged  their 
dimensions,  and  gave  them  a  complexion  which  they  had  nut 
Avorn  when  fresh  from  the  pure  and  artless  hands  of  truth. 

A  half  an  hour  after  the  return  of  the  orderlies  it  Avas  conli- 
dently  believed  that  the  batteries  would  open  fire  at  eight 
o'clock,  and  in  expectation  of  seeing  the  beginning  of  the  con- 
flict, hundreds  congregated  upon  the  Battery  and  the  Avhar\-es, 
looking  out  on  the  bay.  There  they  stood,  straining  their  e3'es 
over  the  dark  expanse  of  Avater,  Awaiting  to  see  tlie  flash  and 
hear  the  boom  of  the  first  gun.  The  clock  told  the  hour  of 
eleven,  and  still  they  gazed  and  listened,  but  the  ej'elids  grew 
Aveary.  and  at  the  noon  of  the  night  the  larger  portion  of  the 
disappointed  spectators  Avere  plodding  their  Ava}^  homcAvard. 
At  altout  nine  o'clock,  General  Beauregard  received  a  reply 
from  President  Davis,  to  the  telegram  in  relation  to  the  surren- 
der of  Sumter,  by  Avhich  he  Avas  instructed  to  inform  Major 
Anderson  that  if  he  Avould  evacuate  the  fort  he  held  Avheii  his 
present  supply'  of  provisions  Avas  exhausted,  there  Avould  be  no 
appeal  to  arms.     This  proposition  Avas  borne  to  Major  Ande]'- 


r  2,GS  7  -i 


soil  liy  the  Aids  wlio  liad  delivered  the  first  niessaire,  and  lie 
refused  to  aecept  the  condition.  The  fJeneral-in-Chief  forth- 
vith  gave  the  order  that  the  batteries  be  opened  at  halt-past 
four  o'elock  on  Friday  niornini:;.  Major  Anderson's  reply  was 
decisive  of  the  momentous  question,  and  (General  Ikaure^ard 
determined  to  apply  the  last  arijument.  The  stout  soldier  had 
resolved  to  make  a  desperate  defence,  and  the  bloody  trial  of 
streni^tli  must  be  essayed.  The  sword  must  cut  asunder  the 
la>t  tie  that  boun<l  us  to  a  peo])le,  whom,  in  spite  of  wrongs 
and  injustice  wantonly  inflicted  through  a  long  series  of  years, 
we  had  not  yet  utterl}'  hated  and  despised.  The  last  expiring 
spark  of  aflection  must  be  quenched  in  blood.  Some  of  the 
most  splendid  pages  in  our  glorious  history  must  be  blurred.  A 
blow  must  be  struck  that  would  make  the  cars  of  evcrj^  Rc- 
miblican  fanatic  tingle,  and  whose  dreadful  ettects  will  be  felt 
by  generations  yet  to  come.  ^Vc  must  transmit  a  heritage  of 
rankling  and  undying  hate  to  our  children. 

The  restless  activit}'  of  Thursday  night  was  gradually  worn 
down;  the  citizens  who  had  thronged  the  battery  through  the 
night,  anxious  and  weary,  had  sought  their  homes,  the  Mounted 
(iuard  which  had  kej)!  watch  and  ward  over  the  city,  with  the 
first  grey  streak  of  morning  were  preparing  to  retire,  when 
two  guns  in  quick  succession  from  Fort  Johnson  announced  the 
o])ening  of  the  drama.  Upon  that  signal,  at  twent^'-live  min- 
ules  ]>ast  four  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  circle  of  batteries  with  which 
tiie  grim  fortress  of  Fort  Sumter  i«  beleaguered  opened  fire. 
Tiie  outline  of  this  great  volcanic  crater  was  illuminated  with 
u  line  of  twinkling  lights;  the  clustering  shells  illuminated  the 
sky  above  it;  the  balls  clattered  thick  as  hail  upon  its  sides; 
our  citizens,  aroused  to  a  forgetfulness  of  their  fatigue^  through 
many  weary  hours,  rushed  again  to  the  jioints  of  observation  ; 
and  so,  at  the  break  of  day,  amidst  the  biirsling  of  bombs,  and 
the  I'oaring  of  ordnance,  and  before  thousands  of  spectators, 
whose  homes,  and  liberties,  and  lives  Avere  at  stake,  was  enacted 
this  first  great  scene  in  the  opening  drama  of  this  most  mo- 
mentous military  history. 

As  the  roar  of  cannon  bui-st  upon  the  startled  city,  the 
expected  sound  was  answered  by  thousands.  The  houses  were 
in  a  ihw  minutes  eni])tie<l  of  their  excited  occuiiants,  and  the 
living  stream  poured  through  all  the  streets  leading  to  the 
wharves  and  Batteiy.  On  reaching  our  beautiful  promenade, 
we  found  it  lined  with  ranks  of  eager  spectators,  and  all  the 
wharves  commanding  a  view  of  the  battle  were  crowded  thickly 
with  human  forms.  On  no  gala  occasion  liave  we  ever  seen 
nearly  so  largo  a  number  of  ladies  on  our  Battery  as  graced  the 
bi-eezy  walk  on  this  eventful  morning.  There  the}-  stood  with 
])alpitating  hearts  and  palid  faces,  watching  the  white  smoke 
as  it  rose  in  wreaths  upon  the  soft  twilight  air,  and  breathing- 
out  fervent  ])rayei-s  for  their  gallant  kinsfolk  at  the  guns. 

Steadily  alternating,  our  batteries  spit  forth  their  wrath  at 


the  grim  fortress  rising  so  defiantly  out  of  the  sea.  Major 
Anderson  received  the  sliot  and  sliell  in  silence.  And  sonic 
excited  lookers  on,  ignorant  of  the  chai-acter  of  the  foe,  were 
fluent  with  conjectures  and  predictions,  that  revived  the  hope 
fast  dying  out  of  their  hopeful  and  tender  hearts.  But  the 
short-lived  hope  was  utterly  extinguished  when  the  deepening 
twilight  revealed  the  Stars  and  Stripes  floating  defianth'  in  the 
breeze.  The  batteries  continued  at  regular  intervals  to  belch 
iron  vengeance,  and  still  no  answer  was  returned  by  the  foe. 
About  an  hour  after  the  1)ooniing  began,  two  balls  rushed  hiss- 
ing through  the  air,  and  glancetl  harmless  from  the  stuccoed 
bricks  of  Fort  Moultrie.  The  embrasures  of  the  hostile  fort- 
ress gave  forth  no  sound  again  till  between  six  and  seven 
o'clock,  when,  as  if  wrathful  from  enforced  delay,  from  case- 
mate and  parapet  the  United  States  officer  poured  a  stonn  of 
iron  hail  upon  Fort  Moultrie,  Steven's  Iron  Battery  and  the 
Floating  Battery.  The  broadside  was  returned  with  spirit  by 
the  gallant  gunners  at  these  important  posts.  The  firing  now 
began  in  good  earnest.  The  curling  white  smoke  hung  above 
the  angrj'  pieces  of  friend  and  foe,  and  the  jarring  boom  rolled 
at  regular  intervals  on  the  anxious  car.  The  atmosjihere  was 
charged  Avith  the  smell  of  villainous  salti)eti*e,  and  as  if  in 
sympathy  with  the  melancholy  scene,  the  sk}'  was  covered 
with  heavj'  clouds,  and  everything  wore  a  sombre  aspect. 

About  half  past  nine  o'clock.  Capt.  li.  S.  Parker  reportctl 
from  Sullivan's  Island  to  Mount  Pleasant  that  everything  was 
in  fine  condition  at  Fort  Moultrie,  and  that  the  soldiei's  had 
escaped  unhurt.  The  same  dispatch  stated  that  the  embra- 
sures of  the  Floating  Battery-  were  undamaged  b^-  the  shock  of 
the  shot,  and  tbongh  that  formidable  structure  had  been  struck 
eleven  times,  the  balls  had  not  started  a  single  bolt.  Anderson, 
after  finding  his  fire  against  the  Iron  Battery  ineffectual,  had 
concentrated  his  fire  upon  the  Floating  Battery,  and  the  Dahl- 
gren  Battery,  both  under  command  of  Ca])t.  Hamilton.  A 
number  of  shells  had  dropped  into  Fort  Sumter,  and  one  gun 
en  barbette  bad  been  dismounted. 

The  following  cheering  tidings  Avere  next  brought  to  the  city: 
Stevens'  Battery  and  the  Floating  Battery-  are  doing  import- 
ant service.  Stevens'  Battery  has  made  considerable  progress 
in  battering  the  south  and  south-west  Avails  of  Fort  Sumter. 
The  north-Avest  Avail  is  suffering  from  the  Avell-aimed  fire  of  the 
Floating  Battery,  Avhose  shot  have  dismounted  several  of  the 
guns  on  the  parapet,  and  made  it  impossible  to  use  the  i-emain- 
ing  ones.  The  Mortar  Battery  connected  Avith  the  impreg- 
nable Gun  Battery  at  Cumming's  Point,  is  managed  Avith 
consummate  skill  and  terrible  effect. 

Eleven  o'clock. — A  messenger  from  Mori  is'  Island  brings  the 
ncAvs  that  the  shot  glance  from  the  iron  covered  battery  at 
Cumming's  Point,  like  marbles  throAvn  by  a  child  on  the  Itack 
of  a  turtle.     The  upper  portion  of  the  south-Avest  Avail  of  Fort 


V  p  c  ^ 


7    2 


6 

Sumter  s1io\ys  plainly  the  cflfoct  of  the  tcrriljlo  oannonado  from 
the  f<»rini<lable  invention  of  Mr.  C.  11.  Stevens'  patriotism  and 
ingenuity. 

A  boat  reached  the  city  from  the  Floating  Battery  about 
half-past  twelve  o'clock,  and  reported  that  a  shot  irom  Fort 
Sumter  penetrated  the  top  or  sheil  of  the  structure,  and  three 
shots  struck  the  saiul  hairs  in  the  rear  of  the  Battei-y. 

Ttcih'C  o'clock. — "We  have  just  learned  by  an  arrival  from 
Cumming's  Point,  that  the  batteries  there  continue  doing  good 
service — Stevens'  liattery  very  successful.  Not  a  single  casu- 
alty has  happened.  The  troops  are  in  the  best  spirits.  Two  of 
the  guns  at  Fort  Sumter  appear  to  be  disabled.  Considerable 
damage  has  been  done  to  the  roofs  of  the  officer's  quarters. 

One  o'clock. — The  following  Avas  received  from  ^lorris'  Island. 
One  gun  in  Stevens'  Battery  temporarily  disabled,  Anderson's 
fire  having  injured  the  door  of  the  embrasure.  The  damage 
will  be  repaired  speedily.  Three  steam  vessels  of  war  were 
seen  otf  the  bar,  one  of  them  supposed  to  be  the  Harriet  Lane. 

The  venerable  Edmund  I^uftin,  who,  so  soon  as  it  was  known 
a  battle  was  inevitable,  hastened  over  to  Morris'  Island  and 
was  elected  a  member. of  the  Palmetto  Guard,  fired  the  first 
gun  from  Stevens'  Iron  Battery.  Another  son  of  the  Old 
Dominion  was  appointed  on  General  Beauregard's  Staff  on 
Thursday,  bore  dispatches  to  the  General  in  command,  from 
Brigadier-General  James  Simons,  in  command  of  ^lorris' Island, 
during  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  and  in  the  face  of  a  murderous 
fire  from  Fort  Sumter.  Col.  Poger  A.  Pr^-or,  in  the  execution 
of  that  dangerous  commission,  passed  Avithin  speaking  distance 
of  the  hostile  fortress. 

Fort  Moultrie  has  fully  sustained  the  prestige  of  its  glorious 
name.  It  fired  very  nearh'  gun  for  gun  with  Fort  Sumter. 
"NVe  counted  the  guns  from  eleven  to  twelve  o'clock,  and  found 
them  to  be  forty-two  to  foi-ty-six,  while  the  advantage  was 
iinqucstionabl}'  upon  the  side  of  Fort  Moultrie.  In  that  fort 
not  a  gun  was  dismounted,  not  a  wound  received,  not  the 
slightest  permanent  injury  sustained  by  any  of  its  defences, 
while  every  ball  from  Fort  Moultrie  left  its  mark  upon  Fort 
Sumter.  5lany  of  its  shells  were  dropped  into  that  fort,  and 
Lieut.  John  Mitchell,  the  worthy  son  of  that  patriot  sire,  who 
has  so  nobly  vindicated  the  cause  of  the  South,  has  the  honor 
of  dismounting  two  of  its  pa)'a]')et  guns  by  a  single  shot  from 
(•ne  of  the  Columltiails.  whit'h  at  the  time  he  liad  the  otiicc  of 
directing. 

A  brisk  fire  was  kept  up  by  all  the  batteries  until  about  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  after  which  hour  the  guns  boomed, 
throughout  the  night  of  Friday,  at  rcgulai'  intervals  of  twenty 
minutes.  The  schooner  Petrel,  J.  L.  Jones,  commanding,  while 
lying  otf  the  mouth  of  Hog  Island  Channel,  was  fired  into  from 
I-'ort  Sumter,  about  half-past  eight  o'clock.  One  shot  took  effect 
in  the  bow  of  the  schooner,  and  several  passed  over  her. 


It  were  vain  to  attempt  an  exhibition  of  the  enthusiasm  and 
fearless  intrepidity  of  our  citizens  in  every  department  of  this 
eventful  day.  Boats  passed  from  post  to  post  without  the 
sliixhtest  hesitation,  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  with 
high  and  low,  old  and  j'oung,  rich  and  poor,  in  uniform  or  with- 
out, the  common  wish  and  constant  effort  was  to  reach  the  posts, 
of  action  ;  and  amid  a  bombardment  resisted  with  the  most  con- 
summate skill  and  perseverance,  and  with  the  most  efficient 
appliances  of  military  art  and  science,  it  is  a  most  remarkable 
circumstance,  and  one  which  exhibits  the  infinite  goodness  of 
an  overruling  Providence,  that,  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to 
learn  from  the  most  careful  inquiry,  not  the  slightest  injury  has 
been  sustained  by  the  defenders  of  their  country. 

It  ma}-  be  added,  as  an  incident  that  contributed  no  little 
interest  to  the  action  of  the  day,  that  from  early  in  the  fore- 
noon three  vessels  of  war,  two  of  them  supposed  to  be  the  Har- 
riet Lane  and  Pawnee,  lay  just  beyond  the  bar,  inactive  specta- 
tors of  the  contest. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  BOMBAEDMEXT. 

Second  Day,  Saturday,  April  13,  1861. 

"We  closed  the  account  of  the  grand  military  diorama  in  pro- 
gi'css  on  our  Bay  amidst  the  clouds  and  gloom  and  threatening 
perils  of  Friday  night.  The  firing,  abated  in  the  early  evening, 
as  though  for  the  concentration  of  its  special  energies,  com- 
menced again  at  ten  o'clock,  and  amid  gusts  of  rain,  and  clouds 
that  swept  the  heavens,  the  red  hot  shot  and  lighted  shells, 
again  streanied  from  the  girt  of  batteries  around,  and  concen- 
trated in  fearful  import  over  Fort  Sumter.  Of  the  effects  little 
was  visible,  of  course,  and  anxious  citizens,  who  from  battery, 
spire  and  housetop,  had  bided  the  peltings  of  the  storm,  mute 
8j)ectators  of  the  splendid  scene,  could  only  wait  the  opening  of 
the  coniing  day  foi  confirmation  of  the  hopes  and  fears  with 
which  the  changes  in  the  scene  successively  inspired  them.  As 
dawn  approached,  the  firing  again  abated,  and  when  the  rising 
sun  threw  its  flood  of  light  over  the  sparkling  waters  from  a 
cloudless  sky,  it  was  but  by  random  shots  from  outlying  bat- 
teries, with  scarce  an  answer  from  Fort  Sumter,  that  spectators 
were  assured  the  contest  still  continued,  and  that  human  feel- 
ing was  not  in  harmony  with  the  grace  and  glory  of  the  scene. 
It  was  but  a  little  while,  however,  before  the  energy  of  action 
was  restored,  and  as  the  work  of  destruction  still  went  on,  it 
was  feared  that  still  another  day  of  expectation  and  uncertainty 
was  before  us.  But  at  eight  o'clock  the  cry  arose  from  the 
wharves,  and  rolled  in  one  continuous  wave  over  the  city, 
''Fort  Sumter  is  ox  Fire  I"  The  Avatchers  of  the  night 
before,  who  had  retired  for  a  few  moments,  were  aroused,  occu- 


8 

pations  wore  iustantl}'  suspended,  and  old  and  ^'ouncj,  either 
mounted  to  their  points  ofubservation,  or  rolled  in  crowds  upon 
the  Batter}-,  to  look  upon  the  last  and  most  iniposin<x  act  in 
this  great  drama.  The  barracks  to  the  south  had  been  three 
times  set  on.  tire  during  the  bombardment  of  the  day  before, 
^but  each  time  the  flames  were  immediately  extinguished.  Sub- 
sequently, however,  a  red-hot  shot  from  Fort  Moultrie,  or  a 
shell  from  elsewhere,  foun<l  a  lodgment,  when  the  fact  was  not 
apparent,  and  the  tire,  smouldering  for  a  time,  at  length  broke 
forth,  and  flames  and  smoke  rose  in  volumes  from  the  crater  of 
Fort  Sumter.  The  wind  was  blowing  from  the  west,  driving 
the  smoke  across  the  fort  and  into  the  embrasures,  where  the 
gunners  were  at  work,  and  pouring  its  volumes  through  the 
port-holes;  the  tiring  of  Fort  Sumter  apju-ared  to  be  renewed 
with  vigor.  The  Arc  of  the  Fort,  long,  lierce  and  rajtid,  how- 
ever, was  gradually  abated,  and  aUhougli  at  distant  intiMvals  a 
gun  was  fired,  the  necessity  of  preserving  their  magazines  and 
of  avoiding  the  flames,  left  the  tenants  little  leisure  foi*  lesist- 
ance.  But  the  firing  from  without  was  continued  Avith  re- 
doubled vigor.  Every  battery  poured  in  its  ceaseless  round  of 
shot  and  sliell.  The  enthusiasm  of  success  inspired  their  cour- 
age and  gave  precision  to  their  action  ;  and  thus,  as  in  the 
opening,  so  in  the  closing  scene,  under  the  beaming  sunlight,  in 
view  of  thousands  cro^'ded  ujion  the  wharves  and  house-tops, 
and  amid  the  booming  of  ordnance,  and  in  view  of  the  five 
immense  ships  sent  by  the  enemy  with  reinforcements,  lying 
idly  just  out  of  gun  shot  on  the  Bar,  this  first  Ibrtress  of  des- 
potic power  fell  jn-ostrato  to  the  cause  of  Southern  Indepen- 
dence. 

At  about  nine  o'clock  the  flames  apjieared  to  be  abating,  anil 
it  was  ap))rehended  that  no  irreparable  injury  had  been  sus- 
tained; but  near  ten  o'clock,  a  column  of  white  smoke  rose 
high  above  the  battlements,  followed  by  an  explosion  which 
Avas  felt  upon  the  whai-ves,  and  gave  the  assurance  that  if  the 
magazines  were  not  exploded,  at  least  their  temporary  ammu- 
nition were  exposed  to  the  clement  still  raging.  Soon  alter 
the  barracks  to  the  east  and  west  were  in  flames,  the  smoke 
rose  in  redoubled  volume  from  the  whole  circle  of  the  fort,  and 
rolling  from  the  embrasures,  it  seemed  scarcely  possible  that 
life  could  Ijc  sustained.  Soon  after  another  column  of  shioke 
arose  as  fearful  as  the  first.  The  guns  had  long  been  com- 
pletely silenced,  and  the  onl}'  option  left  to  the  tenants  of  the 
fortress  seemed  to  be  whether  they  would  perish  or  surrender. 
At  a  quarter  to  one  o'clock,  the  staft',  from  which  the  Hag  still 
waved,  was  shot  away,  and  it  was  long  in  doubt  whether,  if 
thei'c  were  the  purpose,  tliei-e  was  the  ability  to  re-erect  it. 
But  at  the  expiration  of  about  twenty  minutes,  it  again  ap- 
])eared  ujion  the  eastern  rampart,  and  announced  that  resist- 
ance Avas  not  ended.  In  the  meantime,  hoAvever,  a  small  boat 
started  from  the  city  Avharlj  bearing  Colonels  Lee,  Pryor  and 


9 

Miles,  Aids  to  Gen.  Beauregard,  with  offers  of  assistance,  if, 
perchance,  the  garrison  should  be  unable  to  escape  the  flames. 
As  they  ajiproached  the  fort,  the  United  States'  flag  re-ap- 
peared; and  shortly  afterwards  a  shout  from  the  whole  circle 
of  spectators  on  the  islands  and  the  main,  announced  that 
the  white  flag  of  truce  was  Avaving  from  the  ramparts.  A 
small  boat  had  already  been  seen  to  shoot  out  from  C'umming's 
Point,  in  the  direction  of  the  fort,  in  which  stood  an  officer 
with  a  white  flag  u]wu  the  point  of  his  sword.  This  officer 
proved  to  be  Col.  AVigfall,  Aid  to  the  Commanding  (Jeneral, 
who,  entering  through  a  port-hole,  demanded  the  surrender. 
Major  Anderson  replied,  that  '"the}'  were  still  firing  on  him." 
"Then  take  your  flag  down,"  said  Col.  AVigfall:  "they  Avill  con- 
tinue to  fire  upon  you  so  long  as  that  is  up." 

After  some  further  explanations  in  the  course  of  which  it 
appeared,  that  Major  Anderson's  men  were  fast  suffocating  in 
the  casemates,  the  brave  commander  of  Sumter  agreed  that  ho 
would,  unconditionally,  surrender — subject  to  the  terms  of 
Gen.  Beauregard,  who,  as  was  said  by  Col.  AVigfall,  "is  a  sol- 
dier and  a  gentleman,  and  knoAvs  hoAV  to  treat  a  brave  enemA'." 
"When  this  parley  had  been  terminated,  another  boat  from  the 
city  containing  Major  Jones,  Cols.  Chesnut  and  Manning,  Avith 
other  officers  and  the  Chief  of  the  Fire  Department  and  the 
Palmetto  Fire  ComjiauA'  came  up  to  the  Fort.  All  firing  had 
meantime  ceased.  The  agreement  to  unconditional  surrender 
Avas  reiterate<l  in  the  presence  of  new  arrivals,  and  Messrs. 
Chesnut  and  Manning  immediately  came  back  to  the  city  to 
bring  the  ncAvs,  Avhen  it  Avas  also  positively  stated  afterwards, 
that  no  one  Avas  killed  on  either  side.  It  may  seem  strange, 
but  it  is  neA^ertheless  true.  The  only  AvaA'  to  account  for  the 
fact  is  in  the  excellent  protection  offered  hj  the  unparalleled 
good  works  behind  Avhich  the  engagement  Avas  fought.  The 
long  range  of  shooting  must  also  be  taken  into  account.  In 
addition  to  this,  on  each  side,  the  men,  seeing  a  discharge  in 
their  direction,  learned  to  dodge  the  balls  and  to  throAv  tiiem- 
selves  under  coA'er.  A  horse  on  Sullivan's  Island  Avas  the  onh- 
liA'ing  creature  dcpriA-ed  of  life  during  the  bombardment. 

General  Beauregard  decided  u])on  the  following  terms  of 
Anderson's  capitulation : 

That  is — First  affording  all  proper  facilities  for  removino- 
liim  and  his  command,  together  with  company  arms  and  proj)- 
crty  and  all  priA'ate  property*. 

Secondly — Th.at  the  Federal  flag  he  had  so  long  and  so 
bravely  defended  should  be  saluted  by  the  vunqui.shed  on 
taking  it  dOAvn. 

Thirdly — That  Anderson  should  be  alloAved  to  fix  the  time 
of  surrender;  to  take  place,  however,  some  time  during  the 
ensuing  da}'  (Sunday.) 

These  terms  Avere  the  same  as  those  offered  before  the  con- 
test. In  pursuance  of  this  programme,  Major  Anderson  indi- 
cated Sunday  morning  as  the  time  for  J^is  formal  surrender. 


10 


THE  SURREXDER  OF  FORT  SUMTER. 

SuxuAY,  April  14.  l^Gl. 

On  Sunday  inorniiiu;,  April  14,  ISGl,  at  half-pa.st  12  o'clock, 
liis  ExeoUeiicy  Governor  Piolvons,  witli  his  Aids,  and  Messrs. 
Jamison,  llarllcc  and  Magrath,  of  his  Executive  Council,  and 
Gen.  Beauregard,  with  his  Aids,  Messns.  Aliles,  Pi-yor,  ^lannincj. 
Chcsnut  and  Jones,  and  many  distini^uished  i^entiemen.  invited 
to  he  present,  took  their  departure  in  a  steamer  from  iSouthern 
Wharf,  and  were  borne  in  the  direction  of  the  Fort.  As  wc 
advanced,  it  was  ajiparent,  however,  that  the  evacuation  was 
not  completed.  Thouii;h  the  steamer  Isabel,  at  tiie  re<inest  of 
Major  Anderson,  had  been  present  from  nine  o'clock,  and  the 
cxi)ectation  had  been  occasioned  that  ver}*  soon  thereafter  his 
command  would  be  under  way,  still  causes  of  delay  had  inter- 
vened. To  avoid  the  embarrassments  of  a  premature  ai-rival, 
the  party  was  landed  upon  Sullivan's  Island.  Availinij;  them- 
selves of  the  opportunities  thus  attbrded,  they  visited  the 
floating  battery,  the  Dahlgren  battery,  the  enfilading  battery, 
and  were  ascending  the  mortar  battery,  when  the  booming  of 
the  guns  upon  the  parapets  of  Fort  Sumter,  announced  the 
lowering  of  the  "  stars  and  stripes."  In  the  terms  of  capitu- 
lation, it  was  allowed  to  Major  Anderson  to  salute  his  flag,  and 
it  was  perhaps  expected  that  he  would  fire  the  usual  compli- 
ment of  twenty-one  guns;  but,  reaching  that  number,  he  still 
went  on  to  fire,  and  the  apprehension  was,  that  he  might 
exhibit  the  discourtesy  of  numbering  thirty-four.  But  he  con- 
tinued still  to  fire,  up  to  fifty,  and  then  slowly  lowering  his 
flag,  the  shouts  from  assembled  thousands,  upon  the  shores  and 
the  steamers,  and  every  species  of  water  ci-aft,  announced 
that  the  authority  of  the  late  United  States  upon  the  last  foot 
of  Carolina's  soil  was  finally  withdrawn.  It  had  been  noticed 
that,  at  the  firing  of  tlie  seventeenth  gun,  there  was  the  sound 
as  of  two  reports,  and  the  impression  was,  that  two  guns  had 
been  fired  together;  but,  as  the  party,  re-embarking,  were  on 
their  way  to  Fort  Sumter,  thc}^  were  met  by  a  boat,  which 
announced  that  one  of  the  caissons  had  exploded,  and  made  the 
earnest  request  that  the  boat  would  return  to  Sullivan's  Island 
for  a  fire  engine,  from  the  apprehension  that  the  magazine 
might  be  in  danger.  This  obtained,  the  party  again  started 
for  the  fort,  and  made  their  entrance. 

It  were  vain  to  attempt  a  detailed  descrijition  of  the  scene. 
Every  point  and  every  object  in  the  interior  of  the  fort,  to 
which  the  eye  was  turned,  except  the  outer  walls  and  case- 
mates, which  arc  still  strong,  boi-e  the  impress  of  ruin.  It 
were  as  if  the  Genius  of  JJestruction  had  tasked  its  energies 
to  make  the  thing  complete,  brooded  over  by  the  desolation  of 
ages.  It  could  scarce  have  been  develo})ed  to  a  more  full  ma- 
turity of  ruin.     The  walls  of  the  internal  structure,  roofless, 


11 

bare,  blackened,  and  perforated  b}-  sliot  and  shell,  hung  in  frag- 
ments, and  seemed  in  instant  readiness  to  totter  down.  Xear 
the  centre  of  the  pai-ade  around  was  the  hurried  grave  of  one 
who  had  fallen  from  the  recent  casualty.  To  the  left  of  the 
entrance  was  a  man  who  seemed  to  be  at  the  verge  of  death. 
In  the  ruins,  to  the  right,  there  was  another.  The  shattered 
tlag-staff,  pierced  b}^  four  halls,  lay  sprawling  on  the  ground. 
The  parade-ground  was  strewn  with  tragments  of  shell  and  of 
the  dilapidated  buildings.  At  least  four  guns  were  dismounted 
on  the  ramparts,  and  at  every  step  the  way  was  impeded  bj^ 
portions  of  the  broken  structure.  And  so  it  was  that  the 
authorities,  compelled  to  yield  the  fortress,  had  at  least  the 
satisfaction  of  leaving  it  in  a  condition  calculated  to  inspire 
the  least  ])ossible  pleasure  to  its  captors. 

Of  all  this,  however,  the  feeling  was  lost  when,  ascending  to 
the  parapet,  the  brilliant  panorama  of  the  ba^-  appeared.  And 
Avhen,  from  this  key  to  the  harbor,  the  view  expanded  to  the 
Avaving  outline  of  main  and  island,  and  when,  upon  this  key, 
the  tiag  of  the  Confederacy,  together  with  the  Palmetto  flag, 
were  both  expanded  to  the  breeze ;  and  when  the  deafening 
shouts  arose  from  the  masses  clustered  upon  boats  and  upon 
the  shores,  and  when  the  batteries  around  the  entire  circuit 
shook  the  fortress  with  the  thun<lers  of  their  salutation,  the 
feeling  that  the  victor}-  was  indeed  complete;  that  the  triumph 
was  a  fact  accomplished  ;  that  liberty  had  indeed  been  vin- 
dicated, and  that  the  State  had  established  her  claim  to  the 
skill  and  courage  necessary  to  the  cause  she  had  the  intellec- 
tual intrepidity  to  avow,  thrilled  in  the  breast  of  every  one  of 
Carolina's  sons,  as  seldom  has  such  feeling  thrilled  in  the 
breasts  of  an}-  men  before.  Shortly  after  the  arrival,  the  gar- 
rison marched  out,  and  were  received  on  l)oard  the  Isabel; 
"which,  however,  from  the  condition  of  the  tide,  was  vinable  to 
move  oft",  and  it  was  a  somewhat  unpleasant  circumstance  that 
Major  Anderson  and  his  command  should  have  been  made 
unwilling  spectators  of  the  exultations  insi)ired  by  their  defeat. 

Of  those  suftering  from  the  casualty  we  have  mentioned,  one 
was  killed  upon  the  spot;  two  were  wounded,  it  is  supposed 
moi'tally,  and  were  left  for  medical  treatment;  and  two  others 
badly  wounded,  also,  at  their  earnest  solicitation,  were  cari-ied 
oft-. 

The  occasion  was  not  without  the  charm  and  interest  afford- 
ed by  the  presence  of  the  fair.  The  lady  of  his  Excellency 
Grovernor  Pickens,  and  the  wife  and  daughter  of  Attornc}-- 
Gencral  Ilayne,  witnessed  the  ceremony  from  the  boat,  and 
Mrs.  llenr}'  Bonnetheau  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
in  the  fort  under  the  flag  of  the  Confederacy.  She  was  down 
to  attend  the  sister  of  Lieut.  Davis,  her  guest  during  the  period 
of  her  brother's  conflnement  to  the  fort,  and  with  the  eye  and 
genius  of  an  artist,  it  was,  doubtless,  with  a  feeling  of  especial 
pleasure  that  she  w'as  favored  with  the  oiiportuuities  of  this 
occasion. 


12 

Col.  Iiiplcj  was  put  in  coinnian<l.  The  departments  of  the 
service,  necessary  to  bring  the  fort  to  order,  were  di.stril)uted. 
The  men  were  preparing  such  rude  appliances  for  comfort  as 
the  dreary  place  admitted  of;  and  as,  at  twilight,  we  steamed 
off  for  the  city,  of  those  standing  upon  the  ledge  around  the 
liase  of  the  fort,  the  last  to  he  seen  was  the  venerable  Kdmund 
Kuffin,  of  Virginia,  who,  with  canteen  and  blanket  strajiped 
ujion  his  shoulder,  seemed  to  be  submitting  with  exemplary 
complacency  to  the  experience  of  a  volunteer. 


TKE  FIGHT  AS  SEEN   FPvO.^I  CUMMIXGS'  POINT. 

[ritOM  A  SPECIAL  COURESPOXDENT  OX  MOUIMS  ISLAND.] 

On  Thursday  morning,  when  I  came  to  Morris  Island,  it  was 
evident  that  tlic  term  of  preparation  and  practice  was  soon  to 
close.  The  men  all  expected  the  order  to  open  fire  that  night. 
And,  indeed,  there  were  reasons  enough  to  justify  the  belief 
that  it  would  be  given.  It  was  generally  known  that  a  fruit- 
less demand  for  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  had  been  made 
that  afternoon.  And,  from  what  was  known  of  Gen.  Jieaure- 
gard,  nobody  imagined  that  he  would  delay  action  many  hours 
after  such  a  refusal.  Besides,  the  unusual  ])rocecdings  at  the 
batteries  bearing  on  Fort  Sumter  showed  jjlainl}'  that  we  wei'O 
upon  the  eve  of  battle.  The  sand-bags,  which  screenetl  from 
Anderson's  view  the  42-2)Ounders  at  tlie  Point  Battery,  were 
hastily  removed  as  soon  as  it  was  dark;  the  works  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Point  were  all  lit  up  with  lanterns;  the 
guns  were  loaded,  shotted  and  sighted,  and  the  men  Avere  kept 
at  their  jiOsts  long  alter  their  usual  time  for  retiring.  Thus 
matters  stood  until  a  t'vw  minutes  after  eight  o'clock,  when,  to 
the  great  chagi'in  of  the  imjiatient  young  gunners,  their  officers 
gave  the  order  to  return  to  their  quarters.  The  comjianies  ac- 
eordingl}-  tiled  off.  as  usual,  to  their  camps,  the  tattoo  resounded 
over  the  dark  sand  hills,  the  tents  Avere  soon  tenanted,  and  the 
men  forgot  their  (lisa]i]H.)iiUuient  in  sleep. 

THE    KOM15.\Ul)MENT    OPENED. 

A  light  rain  commenced  falling  soon  after  midnight  and  con- 
tinued, with  ir.lermissions,  foi-  several  hours.  At  half-past  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Friday  the  more  wakeful  of  our  men 
were  aroused  by  the  tlistant  boom  of  a  shell.  "We  afterwards 
learned  from  the  sentinels  that  it  came  fi-om  the  Fort  Johnson 
mortar  battery.  In  a  moment  the  camps  Avere  all  astir.  The 
long  roll  summoned  a  few  drowsy  ones  to  the  ranks,  and  the 
eager  squads,  convinced  that  the  time  for  action  had  at  last 
arrived,  trotted   off  at   a  quick  pace  tOAvards  their  respective 


posts.  Everything  l)oin<;-  in  readiness,  the  three  batteries  of 
Morris  Island,  bearing  upon  Fort  Sumter,  ojiened  immodiatel}'. 
It  was  not  3-et  daybreak,  and  the  secne.  wliich  at  that  moment 
"was  novel,  was  picturesque  as  well.  The  course  of  the  shells 
on  their  licrv  wa}'  could  he  easily  traced  until  they  exploded  in 
a  white  cloud  of  smoke,  followed  by  a  dull  detonation,  over  the 
parapets  of  Fort  Sumter.  The  effect  of  the  solid  shot  was  also 
]KM'ceptilile  with  the  naked  eye.  At  each  discharge  of  the  guns, 
either  the  water  adjacent  to  the  fort  would  be  daslied  up  in  great 
sheets  of  spra}',  or  the  dense  brown  cloud  of  crumbling  brick 
and  mortar  would  mark  the  spot  upon  the  ramparts  hit  by  the 
balls.  Meanwhile  we  could  see  that  the  batteries  at  other  points 
in  the  harbor  were  as  actively  emjiloyed  as  our  own.  Ever  and 
anon  the  shells  flew  out  from  the  mortar  batteries  at  Fort  John- 
son, Sullivan's  Island,  and  Mount  Pleasant.  The  Floating  Bat- 
tery, stationed  in  the  Cove,  was  quite  hidden  from  our  view  by 
the  smoke  from  its  own  guns,  but  it  was  not  ditficult  to  see  the 
cftective  execution  of  its  42-pounders  upon  the  north  parapet  of 
Fort  Sumter.  Quite  a  large  portion  of  the  Sullivan's  Island 
shore  was  also  wrapped  in  the  white  smoke,  but  the  incessant 
flashing  from  the  merlons  of  Fort  Moultrie  assured  us  that 
IJipley  was  hammering  away  with  characteristic  vigor.  At 
first  the  Morris  Island  batteries  alternated  regularly  with  the 
others,  but  later  this  arrangement  was  found  embarrassing,  and 
our  batteries  tired  at  the  discretion  of  the  officers  commanding 
them. 

now  THE  GUN'S  WERE  MANNED. 

Here,  perhaps,  I  ought  to  give  some  account  of  the  men  who 
worked  the  guns  in  this  portion  of  the  harbor.  The  batteries 
which  bore  upon  Fort  Sumter  from  Morris  Island  are  three  in 
number,  mounting  in  all  six  guns  and  six  mortars.  The  outer- 
most of  these  is  the  now  famous  Trapier  Battery,  in  itself  a 
monument  of  engineering  science  and  energy.  It  is  composed 
of  massive  beams  and  sand-bags,  and  contains  at  this  time  three 
eight-inch  mortars.  When  the  work  was  first  built,  it  also 
mounted  some  heavy  guns  ;  but  these  have  been  removed,  their 
carriages  and  closed  embrasures  remaining  to  show  the  position 
which  they  occupied.  The  Trapier  Battery  was  manned  by  the 
^Marion  Artillery,  Captain  King,  assisted,  towards  the  close  of 
the  bombardment,  b}-  the  Sumter  Guards,  Captain  Russell. 
The  former  company  laboi-ed  incessantly  at  their  pieces,  from 
the  opening  of  the  bombardment  until  Saturday  morning. 
Their  fire  was  skillful,  and  but  very  few  of  their  shells  failed 
to  explode  cither  in  or  over  the  fort. 

The  next  work,  and  nearer  to  the  city  than  the  Trapier  bat- 
tery, is  the  Stevens,  or  Iron  Batter}- — a  novelty  in  military 
engineering — planned  by  and  constructed  under  the  supervision 
of  an  estimable  son  of  this  State.     The  efficiency  of  this  unique 


14 

fortification  was  a  matter  of  no  little  concern  to  many  previous 
to  the  action  :  but  all  doubts  Avere  immediately  dispelled  by 
Major  Anderson's  tests,  as  I  shall  presently  relate.  The  Iron 
Battery  contains  three  heavy  Columltiads.  It  is  flanked  by 
immense  slojtes  of  sand  bai^s,  and  these  are  burrowed  very 
curiously,  luit  socurel}-,  with  places  to  retreat,  which  the  sol- 
diers call  "rat-holes."  but  which  are  in  reality  very  dry.  capa- 
cious and  comfortable  chambers,  except,  ]>erhaps,  that  the 
ceilinix  mi^ht  l»e  a  trifle  hii^her.  And  here  I  ma}'  as  well  say 
that  all  tlie  fortifications  have  one  or  more  of  these  rat-holes, 
to  be  used  as  a  magazine,  a  hos]iital  or  as  quarters  for  the  relief 
according  to  circumstances.  Passing  from  the  Iron  Jiattory, 
we  come  to  the  Point  Batter}',  a  large  work  containing  three 
ten-inch  mortars,  two  42-pounders,  and  the  newly  arrived  rifle 
cannon,  presented  to  the  State  by  Charles  K.  Prioleau,  JOsq., 
now  in  Liverpool,  and  junior  partner  in  the  firm  of  John  Fraser 
&  Co.  It  will,  doubtless,  be  a  great  satLsfixction  to  that  gentle- 
man to  know  that  his  timely  gift  was  so  serviceable  to  our 
troops.  The  gun  has  patent  side-sights  attached,  by  means  of 
which  the  greatest  accuracy  of  range  Avas  ol)tained,  and  each 
of  its  conical  balls  crashed  tliroiigh  its  mark  with  telling  eftect. 
Both  these  last  named  important  posts,  the  Iron  and  Point  Bat- 
teries, were  held  by  the  Palmetto  Guards,  Captain  Cutliliert — a 
gallant  corps,  which,  for  numbers,  alertness,  efficiency  and  un- 
exampled coolness  in  action,  Avon  the  respect  and  admiration  of 
all  Avho  saAv  them  during  the  fight.  I  think  that  their  olliccrs 
must  be  proud  of  such  men,  and  I  know  tiiat  those  oflieers  are 
not  uuAvorthy  of  their  command.  The  tAvo  batteries  manned 
by  the  Guards  Avere  commanded  by  Major  Stevens,  of  the  Cita- 
del Academy.  Captain  Cuthbcrt  devoted  himself  especially  to 
the  direction  of  the  Iron  Battery.  The  rifled  cannon  Avas 
Avorked  by  a  squad  of  the  Palmetto  Guards,  under  the  superin- 
dence  of  Captain  Thomas,  of  the  Citadel  Acatlemy.  I  shlfuld 
not  omit  to  mention  the  fine  looking  conqjanies  in  chai'ge  of  the 
long  line  of  I)atteries  pointing  to  the  Ship  ('hannel  and  extend- 
ing along  the  Avhole  extent  of  the  Morris  Island  beach.  Al- 
though they  Avere  not  called  into  action,  avc  cannot  forget  that 
it  is  to  their  sleepless  vigilance  avc  must  attribute  the  indisposi- 
tion of  the  fleet  to  reinforce  Anderson's  garrismi.  Pei-liaps 
through  the  foolhardinoss  of  our  enemies,  they  may  yet  have 
an  o])])ortuiiity  of  AMudieating  their  valor  in  the  fight  as  avcU 
as  their  vigilance  on  the  Avatch. 

ANDERSON    OPENS    HIS    BATTERIES. 

At  half-past  six  o'clock  a  dull,  unpleasant  drizzle  began  to 
fall,  and  tlie  leaden  sky  betokened  a  dreary  day.  Our  guns 
kept  pounding  indiscriminately  at  the  Avails,  parapet  and  quar- 
ters of  Fort  Sumter,  but  for  nearly  tAVO  hours  no  reply  came. 
The  Fort  seemed  as  if  all  Avithiu  Avere  asleep;  not  a  casemate 


15 

^vas  opened,  and  there  was  no  movement  noticeable  in  any  por- 
tion of  the  post,  excepting  the  fiapping  of  tlio  United  States 
flag,  floating  defiantly  from  a  very  lofty  staflP.  Thus  things 
continued  until  a  few  minutes  after  seven  o'clock,  when  a  shout 
from  the  Jiundreds  peeping  over  the  sand-bags  announced  that 
Anderson  had  opened  fire.  lie  began  with  his  heavy  casemate 
guns  bearing  upon  Cummings'  Point.  His  first  etforts  were 
directed  to  batter  down  the  Iron  Battery.  For  a  time  his  shots 
were  watched  with  intense  interest,  but  after  fifteen  minutes' 
firing  it  became  apparent  that  he  could  make  no  serious  impres- 
sion upon  the  iron-cased  roof  Ball  after  ball  rebounded  from 
the  close  layers  of  railroad  iron,  and  sjdashed  their  way  harm- 
lessly through  the  marsh  beyond.  Most  of  his  shots  were  aimed 
too  high,  and  whizzed  above  the  battery  without  striking  it. 
These  went  ricochetting  over  the  surface  of  the  water,  tearing 
up  vast  masses  of  the  sea-weed,  and  giving  a  terrible  fright  to 
hundreds  of  the  sea-fowl,  which  rose  in  every  direction  from 
the  marsh.  The  effect  of  the  shots  which  hit  the  iron  battery 
was  not  perceptible  to  those  within,  except  by  the  noise  of  the 
concussion,  and  even  this  was  not  so  loud  as  Ave  had  expected. 

At  half-past  seven  o'clock,  the  flash  from  the  parapet  of  Fort 
Sumter  announced  that  Anderson  had  begun  to  Avork  his  bai*- 
bette  guns.  This,  hoAvever,  did  not  continue  A'ery  long,  for  the 
continual  explosion  of  our  shells  in  CA'ery  direction,  on  and 
around  the  ])arapets,  soon  admonished  him  of  the  risk  of  ex- 
posing his  men  in  that  position.  At  tAventy  minutes  before 
eight  o'clock,  an  alarm  from  our  guard  boats  cruising  about  the 
l»ar,  announced  a  steamer  in  the  ofling.  Looking  out  from  the 
crest  of  the  sand  hills  Avith  my  glass,  I  could  descry,  in  the  far 
distance,  a  large  steamer,  A'eiy  similar  in  apjiearance  to  those 
Avhich  plj'  between  Charleston  and  Xcav  York.  It  Avas  after- 
Avards  ascertained  to  be  the  Nashville.  Later  in  the  day  three 
other  ^vessels  Avere  seen — two  of  them  eA'identl3^  men-of-war. 
They  made  no  attempt,  hoAvever,  to  come  in,  but  la}^  together 
in  the  offing  throughout  the  da}'.  About  half-past  ten  o'clock, 
a  shot  from  Anderson  struck  the  middle  port  of  the  Iron  Bat- 
tery, crushing  in  the  iron  plates  that  protected  the  guns, 
making  an  indenture  of  several  inches.  The  ball  did  not  pene- 
trate, but  glanced  ofl"  like  the  others  over  the  marsh.  The 
force  Avith  Avhich  it  struck  the  door,  hoAVCA'cr,  unfortunately  so 
disarranged  the  lever  by  Avhich  the  port  Avas  ojtened  and  closed, 
that  it  Avas  found  impossible,  during  the  remainder  of  the  day, 
to  Avork  that  gun.  The  other  two  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  through- 
out the  Avhole  of  the  bombaidment. 

The  firing  from  all  the  batteries  on  both  sides  of  the  harbor 
was  maintained  steadily  until  nightfall.  Major  Anderson,  dur- 
ing the  afternoon,  ai»peared  to  have  become  conA'inced  that  his 
efforts  to  riddle  the  Iron  Battery  Avere  ineffectual,  for  the  steady 
fire  Avhich  he  had  kept  up  against  Cummings'  Point  Avas  trans- 
ferred to  Fort  Moultrie,  the  Dahlirren  and  the  Floatinsr  Batte- 


IG 

ries  on  the  other  side  of  the  ba}-.  lie  took  caro,  liowevor,  at 
irrei^ular  intervals  of  tiftccn  or  twenty  minutes,  to  sond  a  sliot 
Avliizzini^  ovcT  our  lioads,  and  tliis  kept  our  men  upon  the  qui 
live.  At  one  time  I  noticed  that  the  direction  of  his  shots 
a<^ainst  Mf»rris  Island  was  changt'd  from  the  Point  batteries  to 
those  farther  out.  Perhaps  he  meant  to  rake  tlic  camps,  the 
si-^lit  of  which  was  phiinly  enough  indicated  by  our  flags.  If 
such  was  liis  design,  his  aim  was  veiy  creditable,  for  the  balls — 
some  said  grape — whistled  a  few  feet  al)ove  the  heads  of  the 
tSumter  (Juards,  who  had  been  detached  from  the  Seventeenth 
Pegiment,  and  posted  as  a  reserve  at  the  head  of  the  line  of 
tents,  to  act  as  a  relief  to  the  Marion  Artillery,  at  the  Trapier 
Battery.  Whenever  a  flash  fi-oni  the  south-eastern  casemate 
announced  that  a  shot  was  coming,  it  was  somewhat  ludicrous 
to  notice  the  sudden  dodge  of  hundreds  of  heads  behind  the 
sand  hills,  and  the  abject  prostration  of  such  of  the  darkies  as 
had  not  already  betaken  themselves  to  the  other  extremity  of 
the  Island.  A  few  minutes  befoi-e  seven  o'clock,  the  tire  from 
Fort  Sumter  ceased.  Shortly  afterwards  our  guns  also  stopped 
firing.  At  half-past  seven  the  rain,  which  had  been  lowering 
all  day,  began  to  fall  in  torrents,  and  most  of  our  men  sought 
such  shelter  as  was  to  be  had.  The  storm  was  a  trying  one. 
The  wind  howled  drearily  over  the  sand  hills,  and  the  rain 
descended  with  a  force  and  volume,  against  which  the  slight 
tents  and  leak}'  slieds — the  only  available  cover — were  a  poor 
protection.  The  storm  continued,  with  an  occasional  lull,  until 
near  moi-ning.  Meantime  our  gallant  young  gunners  at  the 
Mortar  Batteries,  nothing  daunted  by  the  disagreeable  rain, 
had  kept  np  their  firing  of  shells  during  the  entire  night, 
though  at  somewhat  longer  intervals  than  before.  The  Sumter 
Guards  deserve  special  mention  for  the  alacrity  with  which 
they  })ei'fbrmed  the  laborious  and  unpleasant  duty  of  strength- 
ening the  foot  of  the  Iron  Battery  with  sand-bags.  For  many 
liours  of  the  night  during  the  worst  of  the  storm  they  worked 
steadily,  lifting  the  wet  and  heav}''  bags  into  position,  and 
wdien  day  broke  the  face  of  the  work  was  even  stronger  than 
on  Friday. 

SECOND    DAY    OF    THE    KOMBARDMENT. 

Satui-day  morning,  the  1'.]{\i  of  April,  a  day  long  to  be  re- 
membered in  our  annals,  as  marked  by  the  close  of  the  most 
extraordinary  bombardment  on  record,  came  in  bright  and 
glorious.  The  clouds  had  cleared  away,  but  the  i-ain  liad  left 
the  ground  moist,  and  the  air  pleasantly  cool.  About  sunrise 
11  vigorous  fire  was  re-opened  from  our  guns.  The  ettects  of 
the  first  day's  bombardment  coidd  now  be  easily  seen  without 
the  aid  of  a  glass.  The  south  and  east  facades  of  Fort  Sumter 
were  complctel}'  pitted  l)y  bails,  and  from  what  we  had  seen  of 
the  fire  from  Sullivan's  Island  and  the  Cove,  we  knew  that  the 


17 

north  facade  could  not  be  in  much  bettor  condition,  Tlie  edge 
of  the  parapet  was  in  many  places  cut  otf,  a  number  of  the 
guns  were  dismounted,  and  the  embrazures  of  the  casemates 
Were  so  battei'ed,  that  the  regularity .  of  their  outline  could 
hardly  be  distinguished.  The  chimneys  and  roof  of  the  bar- 
racks Avere  also  perforated  in  many  i)laces  by  our  balls.  The 
guns  of  Fort  Sumter  did  not  re-open  tire  until  seven  o'clock, 
when  the  shots  began  to  pour  in  (piick  succession  from  the 
casemates  pointing  towards  Fort  Moultrie.  Ripley's  men  re- 
turned shot  for  shot,  and  at  each  discharge  from  Sullivan's 
Island,  we  could  see  great  fragments  of  the  parapet  of  Sum- 
ter toppling  over  into  the  water. 

FORT    SUMTER    ON    FIRE. 

At  ten  minutes  after  eight,  A.  M.,  a  thick  black  smoke  was 
seen  issuing  from  the  southern  portion  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  a 
moment  later,  a  wild  shout  of  triumph  rang  along  the  sand- 
hills, and  was  heartil}'  echoed  across  the  water  from  Sullivan's 
Island  and  Fort  Johnson,  as  we  saw  the  red  flames  piercing 
the  top  of  the  barracks,  and  borne  eastward  by  the  higii  wind, 
wrapping  the  entire  ])arapet  in  dense  clouds  of  smoke.  The 
sight  infused  new  confidence  into  our  men.  and  the  bombard- 
ment immediateh'  became  far  more  rajtid  and  fierce  than  at 
any  previous  time.  The  singular  coolness  with  which  our  gun- 
ners had,  until  then,  performed  their  duty,  seemed  for  a  mo- 
ment to  have  given  wa}*  to  the  excitement  of  the  novel  scene. 
The  bombs  flew  so  thick  and  fast,  that  we  could  see  them 
exploding  in  groups  over  the  flaming  fortress,  while  only  a  few 
seconds  intervened  between  the  hammering  i\ve  of  tlie  heavy 
ordnance.  The  fire  blazed  furiously,  until  the  whole  line  of 
the  barracks  on  the  south  side  of  Fort  Sumter  was  swept 
away,  leaving  only  some  of  the  crumbled,  l)lackened  and  tot- 
tering chimneys  towering  over  the  I'amparts.  Then  the  fire 
burned  lower,  the  flames  sank  behind  the  parapet,  and  we  were 
lelt  in  ignorance  as  to  their  further  progress,  in  the  coarse  of 
the  foren(;on,  we  noticed  several  violent  explosions,  apparently 
doing  serious  damage  to  the  fort,  but  whetlier  these  were 
caused  by  the  fire  communicating  to  hand-grenades  and  like 
combustibles,  or  to  the  magazines,  we  could  oidy  conjecture. 
During  the  pi-ogress  of  the  conflagration,  for  a  longtime  Major 
Anderson  maintained  a  steady  and  terrible  firing  against  Fort 
Moultrie,  but  very  few  guns  were  fired  towards  Morris  Island. 

THE    FLAG-STAFF    SHOT   AW.VV. 

At  a  quarter  before  one  o'clock,  another  tremendous  cheer 
from  the  watchers  upon  our  batteries  called  me  to  niy  ])oint  of 
observation,  just  in  time  to  see  the  flag-statf  of  Fort  Sumter 
bearing  the  flag  of  the  United  States  falling  heavily  inside  the 


18 

Fort.  From  this  auspicious  moment,  the  impression  liccame 
general  among  our  men  that  the  fortress  -vvouhl  be  ours  hel'oro 
niglit  fall.  For  filteen  or  twenty  minutes  I  could  see  no  ensign 
over  the  fort,  but,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  J  descried  a  largo 
United  .States  flag  elevated  amid  the  smoke  close  on  the  north 
Avail  of  the  fort.  Meantime  a  small  boat  had  shot  out  from  the 
beach  of  Cummings'  Point  towards  the  wharf  of  Foi-t  Sumter. 
I  afterwanls  learned  that  it  contained  ("ol.  I.ouis  T.  Wigfall, 
aid  to  (tcu.  Beauregard,  and  Private  (Jourdin  Young,  of  the 
Palmetto  (Juards.  Col.  Wigfall  bore  a  flag  of  truce  u])on  his 
sword.  A  white  flag  also  waved  ujion  Fort  Sumter,  and  in  a 
short  time  the  conclusion  of  the  negotiations  was  announced  to 
us  by  the  disappearance  of  the  United  States  flag  from  the  fort. 

THE  SURRENDER  ANNOUNCED. 

The  rest  is  briefly  told  Col.  Wigfall  returned  and  notified 
the  Captains  of  the  several  companies  to  inform  their  resjjective 
commands  that  the  fort  was  unconditionally  surrendered.  The 
scene  that  Ibllowed  was  altogether  indescribable.  The  troops 
upon  the  hills  cheered  and  cheered  again.  A  horseman  gal- 
loped at  full  speed  along  the  beach,  waving  his  cap  to  the 
troops  near  the  Light-house.  These  soon  caught  up  the  cry, 
and  the  whole  shore  rang  with  the  glad  shouts  of  thousands. 
The  first  burst  of  exultation  over,  all  eyes  were  turned  to  the 
:fleet  in  the  offing,  and  the  guards  resumed  their  wonted  rounds 
upon  the  batteries  which  have  so  nobly  vindicated  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  State. 


A  NIGHT  IN  THE  HARBOR— A   CIIUISF   AFTER  THE 

ENEMY. 

Steamer  Seabrook,  Stono  Tm,et,  ") 
April  12,  18G1.      j 

About  seven  o'clock  on  Thursday  evening  last,  two  of  the 
South  Carolina  vessels,  under  command  of  Commodore  Ilarts- 
tene,  left  Charleston  for  a  cruise  off  the  bar. 

The  scpiadron  consisted  of  the  steamers  Clinch  and  Sea- 
brook.  The  former  was  the  flag-ship.  B(<(h  have  been  fitted 
up  with  a  view  to  service  in  the  harbor,  and  are  furnished  with 
twelve-pounder  howitzers,  and  a  force  suilicient  to  sei-ve  them. 
There  was  no  want  of  ammunition.  In  short,  eveiy  prepai'a- 
tion  was  made  for  a  successful  cruise.  The  tbllowing  are  the 
officers  of  the  Clinch:  Jjieut.  Pelot,  CVjmmanding;  Lieut. 
Porcher;  Midshipmen  R.  JL.  Bacot  and  G.  D.  Jiryan.  The 
Seabrook  was  commanded  as  follows :  Lieutenant  Com- 
manding J.  M.  Stribbling;  Lieutenant  Evans;  First  Assistant 


19 

Engineer,  J.  Jl.Loper;  Assistant  Surgeon  li.  W.  Gibbes;  Gun- 
ner Cuddy,  and  ^lidsbipmen  Ingraham  and  Wilkinson.  The 
Lad}'^  ])avis,  also  forms  a  part  of  the  squadron,  but  she  was  not 
on  duty  last  night.  Her  ofticcrs  consist  of  Lieut.  Dozier,  Coni- 
uinnding;  Lieut.  Grimble;  First  Lieut.  Henry  A.  Mullins,  act- 
ing rilot  ;  First  Assistant  Engineer  (leddes;  Third  Assistant 
Engineer  Yates,  and  Midshipman  Thomas.  The  Clinch  had 
taken  her  position  near  the  bar  early  in  the  afternoon,  and 
accordingly  it  Avas  the  Seabrook  that  left  Charleston  at  7 
o'clock,  cheered  by  the  large  crowd  at  the  wharf  About  half 
past  seven,  under  easy  head  of  steam,  the  various  conjectures 
in  regard  to  what  would  be  the  pi-obable  repl}'  of  Major  Andei*- 
son  to  the  summons  to  surrender,  were  suddenly  cut  short  by 
the  look-out  reporting  a  rocket  seaward.  All  eyes  were  in- 
stantl}'  turned  in  that  direction,  and  two  red  rockets  burst  in 
the  air,  followed  by  the  burning  of  a  blue  light.  Fort  Johnson 
promjttly  recognized  the  signal  that  our  enem}^  had  made  his 
appeaivince,  sending  up  the  answering  rocket  almost  the  in- 
stant the  blue  light,  displayed  by  the  Clinch,  disappeared. 
Excitement  and  preparation  for  whatever  might  occur  immedi- 
ately succeeded.  The  howitzers  were  manned,  the  decks  were 
stripjied.  guns,  revolvers  and  ammunition  were  distributed. 
AVhen  all  that  could  l)e  had  been  done,  silently  sped  the  steamer 
on  her  course,  steadily  she  approached  Fort  Sumter,  all  black- 
ness in  the  distance.  Suddenly  a  hail  was  heard,  and  a  hoarse 
voice  shouted  "the  pirates  are  otf  the  bar."  "  AVhat  steamer!'" 
was  asked.  "The  Harriet  Lane,  twelve  miles  out,"  shouted  the 
same  gruflf  voice,  and  we  were  then  informed  that  she  alone,  of 
all  the  expected  cruisers,  had  been  seen.  Great  eagerness  was 
at  once  manifested  to  reach  our  destination.  It  was  fully  ex- 
pected an  attempt  would  be  made  to  land  troops  in  boats. 
This  it  was  the  purpose  of  the  expedition  to  prevent.  Finally, 
at  8  o'clock,  the  Steamer  lay  off  tlie  Clinch,  when  a  pilot  boat 
brought  a  confirmation  of  the  approach  of  the  ILirriet  Lane. 
Commodore  Hartstcne  then  took  possession  of  the  flag-ship, 
and  twenty^  men  were  transferred  from  the  Clinch  to  the  Sea- 
brook.  The  hour  at  which  Major  Anderson  was  to  indicate  his 
decision  bj'^  the  firing  of  a  shell,  having  arrived,  all  eyes  were 
strained  in  the  direction  of  Fort  Sumter.  As  minute  after 
minute  elapsed,  and  the  stillness  and  blackness  of  Fort  Sumter 
remained  unbroken,  the  belief  became  general  that  ^lajor  An- 
derson had  surrendered. 

Li  the  meantime  the  scjuadron  lost  not  sight  of  its  duty. 
Both  vessels  cruised  all  night  in  search  of  the  expected  war 
boats,  just  within  the  bar.  It  was  the  original  intention  of  the 
Commanding  Officer  to  have  proceeded  out  to  sea,  but  as  the 
wind  increased,  and  there  was  every  indication  of  a  "heavy 
blow,"  the  pilots  said  it  could  not  be  done  with  safety.  In  this 
manner  an  hour  passed,  supper  was  eaten — 10  o'clock  arrived, 
and  yet  Fort  Sumter  had  given  no  signal,  nor  had  the  slightest 


20 

appearanr-o  of  host ili ties  been  noticed  on  tlic  part  of  our  batte- 
ries. Belief  now  became  certainty,  and  not  one  of  us  but  ex- 
pected to  steam  into  Cliarleston  for  breakfast,  after  saluting 
tbe  Palmetto  wavin*^  over  that  much  coveted  "  four  acres  of 
land."  The  expedition,  however,  redoubled  its  viirilance,  in 
order  to  prevent  the  jtossibility  of  surprise.  liieut.  Stribliiii^ 
8lee])lessly  paced  the  deck  all  nif^ht.  His  cneri;y  and  persever- 
ance overcauic  all  ol)stacles.  Lieut.  Evans  took  the  first  watch 
as  ollicer  of  the  deck;  Midshipman  Insj^raham  took  the  second; 
p"'irst  Assiistaiit  En-^ineer  IjO])cr  the  third;  (Juinier  Cuddy 
the  fourth;  and  Mi(lslii])man  Wilkinson  the  moi-niui;  watch. 
Scarcely,  however,  had  the  latter  officer  entered  upon  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties,  before  he  made  a  report  that  cleared  uj) 
all  doubt  as  to  the  decision  of  Major  Anderson  and  the  deter- 
mination of  Genei-al  Beauregard. 

At  4.4U  A.  M.,  the  signal  shell  was  thrown  from  Fort  Johnson, 
and  shortly  afterwards  the  contest — a  contest  that  m""!!!  make 
the  12th  of  April,  1801,  a  memorable  day  in  history — for  the 
possession  and  occupation  of  Fort  Sumter  commeiieed.  Shell 
tbllowed  shell  in  quick  succession  ;  the  harbor  seemed  to  be  sur- 
rounded with  miuiatui'e  volcanoes  belching  forth  tire  and  smoke. 
Still  Major  Anderson  gave  no  sign  of  resentment,  save  the  defi- 
ance ex[)ressed  at  his  tiag-staff.  But  a  shell  from  Cumtuings' 
Point  bursts  on  thepai'apet — the  brave  Cummings"  Pointers  are 
getting  the  range  !  Another  falls  quite  within  ;  and  now  Fort 
Moultrie  seems  to  have  got  the  range;  and  the  Floating  Bat- 
tery, wliich  tlie  North  believed  a  humbug,  begins  to  indicate 
her  position.  She's  not  exactly  at  her  wharf  in  (.'hai-Ieston,  nor 
is  it  positive  she  M'ill  not  take  a  position  nearer  still  to  Fort 
Sumter.  It  is  getting  to  be  warm  work  for  Major  Anderson. 
There,  I  see  a  flash — there  goes  the  tirst  shot  from  Fort  Sumter, 
right  plump  at  Cummings'  Point.  A  considerable  interval 
elapses,  which  is  im))roved  by  all  the  batteries  within  range  of 
Fort  Sumter,  and  then  the  question  of  whether  ^lajor  Ander- 
son will  keep  up  the  tire  is  definitely  settled.  Casemate  follows 
casemate  with  doggetl  deliberation.  But  whilst  all  this  was 
trans])iiMng,  we  were  ra])idly  steaming  out  to  sea.  There  goes 
the  whistle  of  the  (Jeneral  Clinch,  and  we  haul  up  close  and 
receive  orders  to  follow  in  her  wake.  We  come  to  anchor,  and 
presently  Lieut.  Stribling  starts  fron^  his  seat,  seizes  a  glass, 
and  looks  eagerly  eastward.  He  reports  a  steamer,  and  what 
he  supposes  to  be  a  brig,  standing  straight  in.  The  vessels  are 
at  a  gi-eat  distance,  however;  but  when  we  see  them  more 
plaiidy,  we  are  almost  satisfied  that  we  have  had  a  sight  of  the 
Lincoln  squadron,  or  at  least  a  portion  of  it.  The  General 
Clinch  niakes  another  signal,  and  we  haul  in  our  anchor  and 
steam  towards  Cummings'  Point.  As  we  go  by  battery  after 
battery,  we  can  see  the  men  on  the  beach  waving  their  hands 
to  us,  and  distinguish  a  faint  cheer.  At  last  we  come  to  anchor 
close  in,  where  an   excellent  view  of  the  firing  was  obtained. 


21 

In  a  brief  period  the  steamer  wliieli  had  been  seen  off  tlic  bar 
became  plainl}'  visible  at  C'ummings'  Point.  She  Avas  taken  for 
the  Harriet  Lane.  The  squadron  immediately  steamed  out  to 
sea,  and  as  we  neared  the  strange  steamer,  she  ran  up  the  Pal- 
metto flasj;.  It  is  believed  to  have  been  the  Nashville,  Captain 
Murray,  from  New  York.  At  tirst  she  made  for  the  squadron, 
but  afterwards  chan<^ed  her  course,  and  when  last  seen  was 
headiuijf  for  Charleston. 

vStono  was  reached  about  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  without  any  fur- 
ther adventure,  and  as  the  vessel  came  to  anchor,  Fort  Pal- 
metto fired  a  gun.  Commodore  Hartstene  went  on  shore,  and 
made  a  report.  It  appears  that  this  was  the  first  intelligence 
of  the  commencement  of  hostilities  that  had  been  received  ; 
the  firing  of  the  guns  not  being  audible  at  this  distance,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  wind. 

At  seven  o'clock  we  left  Fort  Palmetto.  All  was  quiet  there. 
No  steamers  were  in  sight,  and  the  Edisto  had  arrived  with 
Captain  Shcdd's  command,  consisting  of  eighty  tall,  stout, 
lighting  men.  The  men  are  in  the  best  of  spirits,  and  have 
made  uji  their  minds  to  fight  to  the  death.  Captain  Pope  and 
the  Lafayette  Artiller}^  have  been  at  this  fortress  for  the  last 
three  months,  and  they  have  made  it  almost  impregnable. 
Their  battery  fully  commands  Stono  Inlet,  and  woe  to  the 
unlucky  vessel  with  Yankee  colors  that  escapes  the  breakers 
and  gets  within  range. 

The  firing  of  our  batteries  was  audible  for  miles,  and  the 
large  volume  of  smoke  issuing  from  Fort  Sumter  created  almost 
universal  belief  that  Major  Anderson  had  surrendered. 


SCENES   AND  INCIDENTS   OF   THE  BOMBARDMENT. 

APPKARANCE    OF    FORT    SUMTER    ON    SATURDAY    EVENIXCr. 

An  officer,  who  visited  the  fort  soon  after  the  terms  of  evac- 
nation  were  made,  states  that  the  scene  there  presented  is 
bej'ond  conception.  Without,  the  walls  have  the  appearance, 
at  a  distance,  of  having  been  covered  with  an  immense  number 
of  brick  poultices  spattered  in  every  directioii.  This  is  the 
shattering  effect  of  the  shot.  Within,  the  entire  foi't  wore  an 
aspect  as  if  the  hand  of  the  destroying  angel  had  swept  ruth- 
lessly by,  and  left  not  a  solitar}-  object  to  relieve  the  general 
desolation.  The  blackened  walls  of  the  officers'  and  soldiers' 
quarters  were  yet  smoking,  ashes  and  embers  met  the  eye  at 
every  turn,  while  the  shot  and  shell  which  had  been  rained 
upon  the  stronghold  lay  in  great  quantities  upon  all  portions 
of  the  parade  ground. 


CONDITION    OF    THE    GARRISON. 

The  a])])C'arancu  of  both  Major  Antlerson,  his  officers  and  the 
men,  indicated  the  terribk^  nature  of  the  ordeal  from  wliich 
they  liad  Just  emcrujed.  Deprived  of  sleep  for  many  hours, 
fatigued  witli  their  hibors  at  the  guns,  and  prostrated  by  tlieir 
battle  with  an  element  which  waged  beyond  their  control,  they 
looked  worn,  hagi^ard,  and  ready  to  drop  with  sheer  exhaus- 
tion. When  the  tire  was  at  its  greatest  height.  Major  Ander- 
son stated  the  only  manner  in  which  they  could  l)reathe  was 
by  laying  flat  upon  the  ground  within  the  casemates,  with 
their  faces  to  the  earth;  while  added  to  the  danger  was  the 
occasional  explosion  of  the  jiiles  of  shells  collected  lor  service 
at  different  points  within  the  fort.  It  is  to  the  fact  that  so 
few  men  were  in  the  fortification  that  is  due  the  preservation 
of  life.  Major  Anderson  himself  stated,  that  had  there  been 
two  hundred  more,  not  less  than  one-half  of  them  must  have 
been  killed,  owing  to  the  absence  of  sufficient  room,  under  the 
circumstances,  for  their  protection.  As  it  was,  their  ]irovisions 
Avould  have  given  out  in  two  days  more,  when  an  unconditional 
surrender  would  have  necessarily  resulted.  lie  also  remarked, 
that  yesterday  was  one  of  the  proudest  days  of  his  lite,  for 
while  lie  had  endeavored  to  do  his  duty  as  an  otiicer,  he  had  not 
taken  the  life  of  a  fellow  being.  In  conversing  with  those 
al)out  him,  Anderson  was  free  in  expressions  of  regret  at  the 
necessity  which  compelled  the  destruction  of  public  property. 
On  being  introduced  to  Majui"  Stevens  of  the  Iron  Battery,  he 
complimented  that  gentleman  on  the  efficiency  of  his  battery. 
He  asHurcd  the  Carolina  officer  that  his  work  could  be  no 
better  done. 

THK    EVACUATION. 

The  arrangements  for  the  departure  of  ^lajor  Anderson 
were  completed  on  Sunday  morning.  At  the  early  hour  of  five 
o'clock,  Commodore  Ilartstcno,  antl  Messrs.  Jones,  Chief  of  the 
Staff,  and  Pryor  and  Miles,  Aids  to  General  Beauregard,  ac- 
comi)anied  by  Lieutenant  Snyder,  of  Major  Anderson's  com- 
mand, proceeded  in  the  Clinch  to  the  fleet  off  the  Bar.  They 
found  the  commanding  officer.  Captain  Gillis,  on  board  the 
Powliatan.  Ijieutenant  Snyder  obtained  an  interview  witli 
Captain  Gillis,  who  asked  and  obtained  permission  to  visit 
Major  Anderson,  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  for  his  depar- 
ture. Accordingly,  about  nine  o'clock,  Ca])tain  Gillis  and 
Lieutenant  Snyder  were  deposited  at  Fort  Sumter,  when  it 
was  decided  that  Major  Anderson  and  his  command  would 
accept  the   ofier  of  the  Isabel,  which   had    been   made  to  him. 

Major  Anderson  and  his  command  marched  out  to  the  tune 
of  "Yankee  Doodle."  They  were  (b-essed  in  full  uniform,  and 
carried  their  arms.  Major  Anderson  looked  careworn  and 
deeply  despondent,  produced  no  doubt,  among  other  circum- 


J 


23 

stances,  by  the  sad  accident  which  liappened  while  sahitinj^  his 
flag.  Wlicn  the  sahitc  of  Major  Anderson  to  his  flag  had  com- 
menced, the  Major  was  standing  on  the  Isabel,  when  a  gentle- 
man inquired  if  thirty-tour  guns  was  the  salute.  " No,"  said 
the  Major,  "it  is  one  hundred,  and  those  are  scarcely  enough," 
and  then  burst  into  tears. 

THE    FIRE    IN    FORT    SUMTER. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  after  Governor  Pickens  and  StaflP,  and 
General  Jieauregard  and  Staff  had  started  from  Sullivan's 
Island  to  take  possession  of  Port  Sumter,  they  were  notified 
that  a  fire  had  broken  out,  and  that  the  magazine  was  in  great 
danger.  The  boat  immediately  put  back  to  Sullivan's  Island, 
and  took  on  board  two  Pire  Engines  that  were  on  the  Island, 
and  a  com|)any  of  regulars  from  the  Ploating  Battery.  The 
Engines  were  conveyed  under  the  command  of  Col.  E.  S. 
Duryea,  and  upon  their  landing,  a  stream  of  water  was  imme- 
diately thrown  upon  the  fire  nearest  the  magazine.  The  brakes 
were  manned  by  a  comjiany  of  regulars,  and  by  volunteers 
from  the  noble  Palmetto  Guard.  Col.  Durj-ca  returned  to  the 
city  about  nine  o'clock  on  Sunday  evening,  for  the  pur^iose  of 
obtaining  more  engines.  The  .Etna  Pire  Company,  with  their 
apparatus,  and  the  Axe  Company,  with  their  new  steam 
engine,  were  almost  immediately  placed  npon  the  steanier. 
They  went  down  to  the  Port  in  charge  of  our  very  etficient 
Chief,  M.  H.  Nathan,  Esq.  The  firemen  played  three  streams 
all  night  upon  the  burning  mass,  and  partiall}'  succeeded  in 
arresting  the  progi*ess  of  the  fire.  About  half-past  ten,  in  pur- 
suance of  notice  on  the  bulletin  boards,  a  detachment  of  five 
firemen  from  each  company,  making  fifty  in  all,  left  the  city 
under  the  command  of  T.  Tupper,  Esq.,  to  relieve  their  com- 
rades. At  three  o'clock,  a  report  was  brought  by  Col.  Durj-ea 
that  the  companies  were  at  last  gaining  upon  the  fire,  and  the 
magazine  was  considered  safe. 

THE  PREMATURE  DISCHARGE. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  men  killed  and  wounded 
hy  the  premature  diseliarge  of  the  cannon  in  firing  the  salute  : 
Daniel  Howe,  killed  almost  instantl}',  and  buried  yesterday, 
the  service  being  performed  by  the  Hev.  3Ii'.  Yates;  Edward 
Gal  way,  mortally  wounded,  and  carried  to  the  hospital ;  James 
Hayes,  George  Pielding,  John  Irwin,  George  Pritchard,  severely 
wounded.  The  above  are  all  of  Company  E,  Pirst  Ilegiment 
United  States  Artillery. 

A  soldier's  burial. 

The  Eev.  W.  B.  Yates,  the  zealous  Pastor  of  the  Seaman's 
Chapel,  had  just  concluded  an  impressive  sermon  at  the  Bethel 


24 

on  a  special  Providence,  as  illustrated  liy  the  hapjiv  and  l>rilliant 
issue  of  the  liomharilineiit  of  Fort  Sumter,  when  he  was  waited 
upon  hy  an  oflieer  and  req\iesti'd  to  ])crforni  the  burial  service 
ovei'  the  unlorlunate  soldier  who  had  lost  his  life  hy  accident. 
"With  characteristic  ])r()ni))t ncss  he  answered  the  call.  and.  con- 
veyed in  the  Lodehars  hoat,  which  was  j)ro]H'lled  hy  the  sinewy 
arms  of  the  youn<i;  sailoi's  of  the  .School  Ship,  was  in  a  few 
minutes  inside  the  walls  of  the  fortress.  He  was  received  with 
courtesy  by  the  gallant  Anderson,  and  performed  the  solemn 
rites  for  the  stranger  soldier  who  had  passed  uidiurt  through 
the  Itattle,  and  fell  under  the  arrow  of  death  while  his  heart 
was  beating  high  M'ith  the  hope  of  a  joyous  reunion  with  wife 
and  children.  Before  committing  the  mangled  body  to  the 
dust,  the  minister  pronounced  an  apjiropi-iate  address  to  his 
comrades  in  arms.  The  torn  and  mangled  retnains  of  the 
brave  soldier  were  then  laid  in  a  grave  in  the  middle  of  the 
3'ard,  and  after  the  earth  had  been  heaped  upon  the  sacred 
spot,  a  volley  was  fii-ed,  the  drum  beat  its  solemn  roll,  and  the 
trarrison  was  transferred  to  the  Isabel. 

LF,(iISLATOHS    AND    SOLDIERS. 

During  the  conflict,  so  glorioush*  triumphant,  members  of  the 
Convention,  members  of  the  Legislature,  rendered  zeahms  and 
valuable  services  at  the  ditferent  posts  and  batteries.  Kx-Gov. 
Manning,  Hon.  James  Chesnut,  Jr.,  and  the  Hon.  Wm.  Porcher 
Miles,  of  Gen.  Beauregard's  Staff,  exhibited  a  coolness,  fearless- 
ness and  disregard  of  danger,  when  moving  from  battery  to 
battery,  giving  the  orders  of  the  Commanding-General,  and 
inspiring  coufldencc  among  the  troops,  that  was  worthy  of  the 
highest  admiration.  These  gentlen\en  kept  up  constant  com- 
munication between  the  batteries  and  head-quarters  during  the 
bombardment,  with  shot  and  shell  bursting  over  their  heads 
and  all  arotind  tlu'in.  On  ..Morris'  Island,  besides  tiie  command- 
ing officer.  Gen.  James  Simons,  there  were  of  members  of  the 
Legislature,  Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  G.  DeSaussure  of  the  Ar- 
tillei-y.  Col.  T.  G.  Lamar,  Capt.  A.  J.  Green  of  the  Columbia 
Ai'tilier}',  Col.  Henry  Jiuist,  Col.  Maxcy  Gregg  of  the  First 
liegiment  of  Vohniteei-s,  a  member  of  the  Convention,  and  Col. 
T.  Y.  Simons,  also  a  niciuber  of  the  Convention,  who,  since  the 
adjou)-nment,  has  been  on  Moi-ris'  Island  as  one  of  Brigadier- 
General  Simons'  Aids.  Other  distinguished  volunteers,  both 
from  the  Convention  and  the  Ijegislature,  accepted  appoint- 
nieiils  on  the  Staff,  or  sboiddercd  a  musket  in  the  ranks. 

TIIK    FI-OATIN(i    H.VTTERY. 

This  powci-riil  structure  was  a  great  success.  Upon  its  face 
thei-e  are  twenty-live  well  defined  marks  of  balls,  and  manj'' 
truces  of  glancing  shots.      The  deepest  indentation  does  not 


25 

exceed  seven  inches,  and  several  otliers  measure  two,  three  or 
four  inches.  The  repulsive  power  and  virtues  of  the  palmetto, 
fortified  and  coated  with  iron,  as  in  this  case,  were  signally 
exhibited,  and  the  predictions  of  many  who  considered  thcn\- 
selves  "knowing  ones"  concerning  the  slaughter  pen.  have 
been  falsified.  It  is  now  established  be^-ond  a  doubt  that  a 
floating  fortress  or  battery  of  i)alinetto  can  lie  made  impreg- 
nable— especially  when  the  sons  of  the  Palmetto  are  the  engi- 
neers, builders  and  defenders.  The  Floating  l^attery  received 
in  all  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  shots  from  P^ort  Sumter,  and 
discharged  four  hundred  and  ninety  balls  in  return,  of  which,  a 
very  large  ])roportion  hit  the  mark,  and  brought  the  brick  dust. 
In  the  decisive  fire  of  Saturday,  which  for  a  tiine  threatened  to 
all  appearances  to  suject  the  garrison  to  a  greater  calamity 
even  than  war,  the  heroic  band  on  the  Floating  Battery  watched 
with  generous  admiration 'the  devoted  daring  of  Major  Ander- 
son's garrison  amid  the  flames.  When  amid  these  trying  cir- 
cumstances Fort  Sumter  re-opened  in  a  well  directed  volley,  the 
crj-  arose  "three  cheers  for  Major  Anderson."  They  were 
given  with  a  right  good  will,  and  lustily. 

NARROW    ESCAPES. 

Although  during  the  thirty-four  consecutive  hours  through 
which  the  boml)ardment  lasted,  not  a  man  was  in  any  way 
injured  upon  our  side,  it  cannot  be  said  that  our  men  altogether 
escaped  Major  Anderson's  balls.  As  Capt.  Jones  Avas  standing 
in  the  Point  Battery  a  spent  ball,  which  had  struck  the  sand 
bags  above,  rolled  over  striking  him  upon  the  back  of  the  neck, 
but  not  with  sufficient  force  to  hurt  him.  The  ball — a  thirty- 
two  pounder — was  preserved  as  a  memento  of  the  occasion. 

Arthur  P.  liining.a  meml)er  of  the  Palmetto  Guard,  stationed 
at  tlie  Iron  Batter}-,  narrowly  escaped  death  from  ^lajor  Ander- 
son's first  gun  upon  that  point.  He  was  upon  the  parapet, 
about  planting. the  Palmetto  Flag,  when  the  first  ball  fron\ 
Sumter  passed  within  three  feet  of  him,  upon  which  he  (still 
retaining  his  position  on  the  parapet)  waved  the  flag  aloft,  as 
if  in  defiance  of  Sumter,  amid  the  cheers  of  his  comrades,  and 
retired  behind  the  battery. 

MARION    AND    SUMTER. 

The  bi'ight-quartcrcd  flag  of  the  Marion  Artillery  floated 
proudly  over  the  Trapier  Batterj'  during  the  whole  of  the 
bombardment.  On  Saturday  morning,  when  the  men  at  these 
mortars  were  relieved  by  the  Sumter  Guards,  the  splendidly 
broidered  blue  banner,  presented  by  some  ladies  a  short  time 
ago  to  the  latter  Company,  Avas  placed  side  by  side  with  the 
ensign  of  the  ]\Iarion's,  and  the  rest  of  the  action  was  fought 
with  both  flags  waving  over  head.   It  was  noticed  as  a  singular 


9- 


26 

coincidence  that  i>i  t]\o  very  moment  whrn  the  eniMems  of 
the  Ganu'  Cock  and  the  Swamp  Fox  were  tirst  Hutterini; 
to<i;olher  IVoni  the  crest  of  the  l»attery,  the  fire  was  discovered 
issuing  from  the  parapet  of  Fort  Sumter. 


HOISTING  OUR  FLAGS. 

The  first  Palmetto  Fla<;  was  raised  on  Fort  Sumter  hy  Cols. 
F.  J.  Mos.  s,  Jr.,  and  J.  L.  Dearinn;,  of  Governor  Piekons'  StaflF, 
and  the  Confederate  States  Fla<f  l»y  Capt.  Feri^uson,  of  General 
Beaurciiiird's  Staff,  and  others,  in  the  presence  of  the  Governor, 
(leneral  Beaurci^ard's  Staff,  and  a  hiruje  numljer  of  gentlemen, 
amon<f  whom  were  Chancellor  Carroll  and  Juilircs  (Jlover  an(l 
AVardhiw.  A  salute  was  fired  from  each  of  the  batteries  on  the 
raising'of  these  flags.  The  detachment  of  IJeguhir  Artillery, 
Conii)an3'  B,  which  served  the  Sumter  Battery  at  Fort  Moultrie, 
under  Lieuts.  Alfred  Ehett,  Mitchel  and  Blake,  has  been 
ordered  to  Fort  Sumter,  where  the  whole  Companj'  will  remain 
under  Capt.  IIallon([ui8t,  who  is  its  Captain,  and  is  already 
there  with  the  first  detachment...- 


SUNDAY  AFTER  THE  VICTORY. 

The  glorious  issue  of  the  bombardment  was  duly  commemo- 
rated in  several  of  our  Churches  on  the  Sun<hi3'  following  the 
surrender.  The  incidents  in  "  Old  St.  Philips"  we  witnessed 
were  ileeply  touching.  The  heart  of  the  woi'shippers  in  that 
sacred  fane,  consecrated  by  the  precious  historic  memories 
which  made  the  glory  of  the  "first  teni])le"'  on  this  site,  had 
been  poured  out  in  devout  thanksgiving  t(j  the  (Jiver  of  Victory, 
when  a  venerable  old  man,  leaning  on  his  staff,  was  led  by  the 
Jiector  to  the  saci'cd  desk.  It  was  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese, 
wholly  blind  and  ])hysically  feeble,  yet  with  the  eyes  of  faith 
discerning  the  light  of  Heaven,  and  rejoicing  therein.  In  his 
exhortation,  he  said  that  not  only  a  patriotic,  but  a  personal 
interest  in  the  great  event  of  the  jiast  week  had  hrought  him 
to  the  city,  and  made  him  here  abide  until  the  battle  had  been 
fought.  Your  boys  were  there  and  mine  were  there,  and  it  was 
right  tliat  tliey  should  he  there.  Still  the  heart  had  inl^'  bled  ;  the 
strong  man,  as  well  as  the  tender  woman,  had  quivered  under 
the  influences  of  natural  affection,  for  we  were  not  children,  we 
knew  what  we  were  doing,  and  had  counted  the  cost,  and  had 
weighed  in  our  ver}'  souls  the  warfiire  upon  which  we  were 
going.  And  how  very  marvellous  had  been  (Jod's  doings! 
JIow  unparalleled  his  agency.  All  our  children  had  passed 
through  the  tire  unhurt!     "Not  unto  us,  not  unto  us,  but  unto 


27 

Thy  name,  Oli  Lord,  bo  the  glory  I"  We  forbear  to  follow  the 
good  Bishop  through  the  affecting  application  Avhich  he  made 
of  this  wonderful  Providence  of  God,  but  cannot  pass  over  the 
strong  testimony  which  lie  bore  to  his  firm  persuasion,  strength- 
ened by  travel  through  every  section  of  our  State  in  the'dis- 
charge  of  pastoral  duty,  that  the  grand  movement  in  which  our 
])eop]e  were  now  engaged,  was  begun  by  them  in  the  deepest 
conviction  of  duty  to  God,  and  after  laying  their  case  before 
God — and  God  had  most  signally  blessed  our  dependence  on 
him. 

At  the  Cathedral  of  St.  John  and  St.  Finbar,  Bishop  Lynch 
alluded  iu  happy  terms  to  the  events  of  the  previous  two  days, 
and  a  Te  Deum  was  chauutod  in  thanksgiving  for  the  bloodless 
victory. 


APPENDIX 


DESCRIPTION  OF  FORT  SUMTER. 

Fort  Sumtor  is  built  upon  an  artifioinl  island,  at  the  entrance  of  our  harbor. 
The  t'oundatiuu  being  of  stone,  it  must  be  of  the  strongest  nature.  That  jiortion 
of  the  fort  above  the  water  line  is  of  brick  and  concrete  of  the  most  solid  charac- 
tor.  Its  plan  is  a  truncated  pentagon,  with  one  side  parallel  to  the  adjoining 
shore,  thus  presenting  an  angle  to  the  channel.  Of  the  truncated  angles  the  east- 
ern, western  and  northern  are  simply  formed  into  I'an-compecs,  whilst  the  other 
two  are  formed  of  two  small  faces,  making  an  angle  of  about  fifteen  degrees  with 
the  sides  of  the  pentagon.  At  each  intersection  of  the  small  faces  is  a  sally-port. 
The  height  of  the  parapet  above  the  water-line  is  si.xty  feet.  On  the  eastern  and 
western  sides  arc  the  barracks  for  the  privates,  mess-hall,  kitchen,  Ac.  On  the 
siuithcrn  side  are  the  officers'  quarters,  which  are  finished  in  very  handsome  style. 
It  is  mounted  with  the  heaviest  guns  of  the  United  States  service,  arranged  in 
three  tiers,  the  two  lower  being  Casemates,  and  the  upper  Barbett«  guns.  The 
Casemate  guns  are  those  which  are  fired  from  an  embrasure  in  the  Scarp  Walls, 
and  are  protected  from  the  enemy's  nhelh  hy  an  arched  bomb-proof  covering  over- 
head;  the  Barbette,  those  which  fire  over  the  parapet,  which  exposes  the  caunoniers 
to  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  although,  in  this  instance,  the  height  of  the  ramparts  is  so 
great  that  there  is  comparatively  no  danger  from  the  shot  of  an  enemy's  fleet.  The 
armament  consists  of  140  pieces,  placed  in  the  following  order:  The  heaviest  guns, 
such  as  the  32  and  64-pounders,  on  the  tirst  tier;  24  and  32-pounders  on  the  second 
tier;  Columbiads  (8  and  10-inch)  and  heavy  sea-coast  mortars  on  the  top  of  the 
ramparts.  The  heaviest  pieces  arc  turned  toward  the  harbor,  the  lighter  toward 
the  land  side  ;  which  side  is  further  protected  by  musketry,  for  which  loop-holes  are 
cut  in  the  Scarp  Wall.  The  number  of  each  kind  of  gun  is  about  thirty  64-pound- 
ers,  the  same  number  of  32-pounders,  forty  24-pounders,  ten  of  each  calibre  of 
Columbiads,  ten  13-inch  and  ten  10-inch  mortars,  capable  of  throwing  about  four 
thousand  (4,000)  pounds  of  shot  and  four  thousand  three  hundred  (4,300)  iiounds 
of  shell  at  each  discharge.  On  the  terra-parade  plain  are  situated  two  furnaces 
for  heating  shot.  The  magazines  are  situated  on  the  inner  sides  of  the  sally  ports, 
and  contain,  at  present,  40,000  pounds  of  powder,  and  a  proportionate  quautily  of 
shot  and  shell.  The  landing  to  the  fort  is  on  the  southern  or  land  side,  and  is 
formed  by  a  wharf  projecting  towards  the  shore,  and  also  e.xtendiug  the  length  of 
that  face.  This  fort  would  bo  nearly  impregnable  if  finished  and  properlj'  ni;iiined. 
Its  weakest  point  on  the  south  side,  of  which  the  masonry  is  not  only  weaker  than 
that  of  the  other  sides,  but  is  not  protected  by  any  flank  fire,  which  wuuM  sweep 
the  wharf.  Once  landed,  an  entrance  may,  at  the  present  state  of  the  construction, 
be  easily  made,  for  the  blinds  of  the  lower  embrasures,  though  si.\  inches  in  thick- 


29 

ness,  may  jet  be  easily  blown  away.  And  even  if  this  was  impossible,  scaling  lad- 
ders can  reach  those  of  the  second  tier,  which  are  not  protected  in  this  manner. 
This  concludes  the  brief  sketch  of  a  fort  which  is  a  most  perfect  specimen  of  civil 
and  military  engineering.  The  whole  work  has  been  conducted  in  a  manner  that 
reflects  the  highest  credit  upon  the  engineers,  and  is  worthy  to  occupy  the  promi- 
nent position  that  it  holds.  In  conclusion,  we  take  occasion  to  allude  to  one  point 
of  especial  beauty — the  construction  of  the  arches — of  which  there  are  nearly  every 
variety — the  "Full  Centre,"  the  "Segment,"  the  "Groined,"  the  "Askew,"  and  the 
"  Ranipaut" — and  to  add  that  the  walls  at  their  base  are  12  feet  thick,  and  at  the 
top  8i  feet  thick.  Fort  Sumter  lies  about  one  mile  from  the  shore,  directly  on  the 
main  ship  channel,  which  passes  between  the  fort  and  Sullivan's  island,  on  which 
is  located  Fort  Moultrie,  .about  one  mile  distant.  From  the  battery  of  Charleston 
City  Fort  Sumter  lies  about  five  miles  distant,  standing  out  in  the  open  bay,  one 
mile  from  the  land  on  either  side.  Fort  Moultrie  is,  in  military  phrase,  commanded 
by  Fort  Sumter. 

THE    QARRISON   IN   THE    PORT. 


Names. 


Rank. 


Regimext  or 
Coups. 


Original 

e.vtrv   into 

Service. 


AViiERE  Born. 


R.  Anderson 

S.  W.  Crawford.. 
Abner  Doubleday. 
Trueman  Seymour 

Jeff.  C.  D.ivis 

J.  N.  Hall 

.1.  G.  Foster 

G.  W.  Snyder 

R.  K.  Meade 


Major 1st  Artillery.  July  1,1825, 

Ass't  Surgeon.  Medicil  Staff,  March  10,  1851, 

Captain l.st  Artillery.  .luly  1,1842, 

Captain 1st  Artillery.  July  1.  1846, 

1st  Lieutenant. list  Arii  lery.  j  June  17.1848, 

2d  Lieutenant,  1st  Artillery.  July  1,  1850, 

Captain Engineers  . . .  July  1,  1846, 

1st  Lieutenant,  Engineers  ...  July  1,  1856, 

2d   Lieutenant,  Engineers  ...  I  July  1,1857, 


Kentucky. 
Pcnnsvlvania. 
New  York. 
Vermont. 
Indiana. 
New  York. 
New  ILimpshirc. 
New  York. 
Virginia. 


Officers 9 

Band 15 

Artillerists 55 

Total 79 

Under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  this  force  would  only  be  sufficient  to 
operate  nine  guns. 


WHO    MA.IOR    ANPERSON    IS — HIS    CAREER. 

The  New  I'ork  Leader  has  a  biographical  sketch  of  the  present  commander  of 
Fort  Sumter,  which  is  interesting  at  this  moment.     We  copy  a  passage : 

"Major  Anderson  is  now  about  fifty-six  years  old,  and  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
entering  the  Military  Academy  from  that  State,  and  graduating  with  distinction 
on  June  .30,  1825.  The  record  of  his  military  service  shows  that  he  was  promoted 
to  a  first  Lieutenancy  in  1833,  and  made  Captain  by  brevet  in  1838,  for  gallantry 
and  successful  strategy  in  the  war  against  the  Floriila  Indians.  In  the  same  year, 
he  was  appointed  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  with  the  rank  of  Captain:  the  Cap- 
taincy itself  not  coining  until  the  October  of  1841,  and  his  present  rank  of  Major 
only  reaching  him  last  year. 

"  Major  Anderson  has  also  performed  a  large  amount  of  the  staff  duty  incident 
to  the  service  a  few  years  since,  and  before  it  was  made  distinct  from  duty  in  the 
line.     He   acted  as  Assistant   Inspector  of  the   Illinois   Volunteers,   serving  with 


30 

Abraham  Lincoln  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832.  He  was  Assistant  Instructor 
and  InFtnut<jr  of  Artillery  at  tlic  Military  Academy  in  the  years  1835,  'C  and  '7, 
and  was  Aid-de-camp  to  Major-Gcneral  .Scott  in  1838. 

"During  the  Me.xican  war,  the  Major  endured  all  the  labors  and  danpcrs  of  the 
campaign  :  being  severely  wounded  in  the  assault  on  the  enemy's  works  at  Molino 
del  Rey,  and  receiving  brevet  majority  'for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  in 
that  action.'  Major  Anderson  has  also  received  from  the  Government  many  cvi- 
dcriees  of  its  trust  and  confidence  other  than  those  bestowed  by  the  War  Dfpart- 
mcnt. 

"His  last  service,  previous  to  his  taking  command  of  Fort  Moultrie,  was  as  a 
member  of  the  commission,  ordered  hist  summer  by  Congress,  to  inciuire  into  the 
manner  of  instruction  at  the  West  Point  Military  Academy.  The  labors  of  that 
commission  (in  which  Major  Anderson  performed  his  part)  have  already  been  laid 
before  Congress. 

"In  physique,  the  Major  is  about  five  feet  nine  inches  in  height;  his  tigure  is 
well  set  and  soldierly;  his  hair  is  thin,  and  turning  to  iron-grey;  his  complexion 
swarthy;  his  eye  dark  and  intelligent;  his  nose  prominent  and  well-formed.  A 
stranger  would  read  in  his  air  and  appearance,  determination,  and  an  exaction  of 
what  was  due  to  him.  He  has  a  good  deal  of  manner.  In  intercourse  he  is  very 
courteous,  and  his  rich  voice  and  abundant  gesticulations  go  well  together.  He  is 
always  agreeable  and  gentlemanly,  firm  and  dignified,  a  man  of  undaunted  courage, 
and  as  a  true  soldier,  may  be  relied  ou  to  obey  orders,  and  to  do  hia  duty." 


THE  OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  official  correspondence  which  took  place  before  the 
bombardment  commenced  : 


[No.  1.] 

Gen.  Beaiircf/ard'a  Dexpatch  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Chaulestox,  April  S,  1801. 
To  L.  P.  Walkeu: 

Deak  Sir:  An  authorized  messenger  from  Lincoln  has  just  informed  (!ov.  Pick- 
ens and  myself  that  provisions  will  be  sent  to  Fort  Sumter,  "peaceably  if  tliey  can, 
forcibly  if  they  must." 

[Signed,]  G.  T.  Beavkeoaud. 

[No.  2.] 

Reply  of  the  Secretary  <i/    War  to  Gen.  liriiiirei/ard. 

MoNTCOMEUV,  April  10,  ISfil. 
To  Gen.  BEAUREUAnn,  Charlcf^ton  : 

If  j'ou  have  no  doubt  of  the  authorized  character  of  the  agent  who  comnuinicated 
to  you  the  intention  of  the  Washington  Government  to  supply  Fort  Sumter  by  force, 
you  will  at  once  demand  its  evacuation  ;  and  if  this  is  refused,  proceed  in  such  a 
manner  as  you  maj'  determine  to  reduce  it.     Answer. 

[Signed,]  L.  P.  Walker. 


31 


[No.  3.] 
Gen.  Beauregard  to  the  Secretary  of  TPar. 

Charlestox,  April  10,  ISCl. 
To  L.  P.  Walkeu  : 

The  demand  will  be  made  to-morrow  at  twelve  o'clock. 

[Signed,]  G.  T.  Beairegaru,  Brigadier-General. 

[No.  4.] 
The  Secretary  of  War  to  Gen.  lieaurrgard. 

MosTGoMERV,  April  10,  1S61. 
To  Gen.  Beauregard,  Charleston: 

Unless  there  are  special  reasons  connected  with  your  own  condition,  it  is  con- 
sidered proper  that  you  should  make  the  demand  at  an  earlier  hour. 

[Signed,]  L.  P.  Walker. 

[No.  5.] 

Gen.  Beavrrgard  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Charleston,  April  10,  1S61. 
To  L.  P.  Walker: 

The  reasons  arc  special  for  twelve  o'clock. 

[Signed,]  G.  T.  Beauregard. 

[No.  6.] 
Gen.  Beauregard  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

^^  Charleston,  April  11,  1S61. 

To  L.  P.  Walker: 

Demand  sent  at  two  o'clock.  Alloweil  till  six  o'clock  to  answer. 

[Signed,]  G.  T.  Beauregard. 

[No.  7.] 
The  Secretary  of  War  to  Gen.  Beauregard. 

Montgomery,  April  11,  1861. 
Gen.  Beauregard,  Charleston : 
Telegraph  reply  of  Anderson. 

[Signed,]  L.  P.  Walker. 

[No.  8.] 
Gen.  Beauregard  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

Charleston,  April  11,  1861. 
To  L.  P.  Walker  : 

Major  Anderson  replied  :  "  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
communication,  demanding  the  evacuation  of  this  fort,  and  to  say  in  reply  thereto, 
that  it  is  a  demand  with  which  I  regret  that  my  sense  of  honor  and  of  my  ol>liga- 
tion  to  my  Government  prevent  my  compliance."  lie  adds  verbally :  "  I  will  await 
the  first  shot,  and  if  you  do  not  batter  us  to  pieces,  we  will  be  starved  out  in  a  few 
days."     Answer. 

[Signed,]  G.  T.  Beauregard. 


32 


[No.  9.] 
The  S'frctary  of  War  to  Gen.  lifaureijard. 

MoxTooMERV,  April  11,  1861. 
To  Gen.  BEAUREOAitn,  Charleston  : 

We  do  not  desire  needlessly  to  bombard  Fort  Sumter.  If  Major  Anderson  will 
state  the  time  at  which,  as  indicated  by  him,  he  will  evuttiatc,  and  a};ri.e  that  in  the 
meantime  he  will  not  use  his  guns  against  us,  unless  ours  should  be  employed 
against  Fort  Sumter,  you  are  authorized  thus  to  avoid  the  effusion  of  blood.  If 
this,  or  its  equivalent,  be  refused,  reduce  the  fort  as  your  judgment  decides  to  be  the 
most  practicable. 

[Signed,]  L.  P.  Walker. 

[No.  10.] 
Oen.  Beaureyard  to  the  Secrclarij  of  War. 

Chaklkstox,  April  12,  1861. 
To  L.  P.  Walker: 

lie  would  not  consent.     I  will  write  to-daj'. 

[Signed,]  G.  T.  Beacuegard. 

[No.  11.] 
Gen.  Beaiiregurd  to  the  Sccrctari/  of   War. 

Charleston,  April  12,  1861. 
To  L.  P.  Waiker: 

Wo  opened  fire  at  4.30  A.  M. 

[Signed,]  G.  T.  Bkavregard. 

Note. — Intercepted  despatches  disclose  the  fact  that  Mr.  Fo.x,  who  li;id  been 
allowed  to  visit  Major  Anderson,  on  the  pledge  that  his  purpose  was  pacific,  employed 
Lis  opportunity  to  devise  a  plan  for  supplying  the  fort  by  force,  and  that  this  plan 
bad  been  adopted  by  the  Washington  Government,  and  was  iu  progress  of  execution. 


"^-^■kl^- 


\ 


